#thread: colin1

[drmissymaclean]

The humming under Missy’s skin was bad today. Normally, she could ignore it, by going left foot first up the stairs or flicking her wrist at just the right angle that the movement fit in her brain. Today though, she couldn’t stop the irritable feeling that pricked at her skin like dry heat. Every move she made felt like it had to be done in a certain way and she tried to remind herself that was just a rule she’d made up in her head. 

She checked her phone, a weak smile making its way onto her face as Petey sent another text, reassuring her with many exclamation points (she didn’t dare count them, knowing her brain would try and find something horrifically symbolic about the result) that Gramps was just fine, settling down for the night, and that she didn’t need to rush home. She fired off a response, telling him that he was a godsend and that she hoped to be home before Gramps’ evening detective shows were over. Firstly though, she’d agreed to pay Colin a visit. 

She’d messaged him on her lunch break, asking him if she could come over after work. He knew what a request like that involved, and he’d agreed easily enough, not sensing anything wrong with her tone. That was good though. Missy didn’t want him to think there was anything wrong with her; she just wanted him to fuck the wrongness out of her.

Standing outside his front door, her knuckles hovering above the wood, she paused. Her fingers twitched, hesitated. One-two-three, knock! She missed the count. One-two- She finally gave in and knocked clumsily, not in any sort of rhythm that quieted the pit in her stomach. Her jaw clenched and she felt a muscle in her neck twitch.

She couldn’t help but flinch as soon as Colin opened the door, looking sun-kissed and smug, but oddly comforting too. He looked like ease personified, in such a stupidly charming way that she was almost comforted by the sight of him. Usually, a night with Colin, whether it be in the confines of his luxurious apartment or aptly nicknamed fuckboat, was conquered with no real difficulty. She got along with him more than she did with most people outside of her ragtag group of Irishmen and Bonnie. Colin had never been the sort of person she’d have ever envisioned herself hanging out with - in fact, he was the exact kind of person she’d have started a fight with in high school - but the buzzing in her veins mellowed a little as he stood there, leaning against his doorway.

She knew how she looked, her hair scraped back in a braid, museum ID hanging off her neck in its lanyard and her blouse still covered in fragments of bone dust. 

“Hey,” she said. Her voice was tight, a little hoarse from the repetitive left-right, left-right, left-right pattern she had muttered to herself on her way here, keeping it up under her breath to keep the image of Gramps falling down the stairs out of her head. 

Before he could say anything in response, Missy leaned forwards and kissed him, pushing him backwards into his apartment. Her bag slid off her shoulder, landing on the floor with a thud. The way she kissed him was automatic, muscle memory, like a routine. 

Her tongue found his with a practised ease as she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to ignore the fact that it didn’t feel the same as usual. Something dark and ugly churned inside her as she grasped the front of Colin’s shirt, fingers scrabbling to find his buttons so she could undo them. 

It wasn’t desire she was kissing Colin with right now, it was desperation and as she deepened the kiss with a soft groan, she kissed him like it could erase her whole entire day and help her ignore the compulsions clawing at the back of her brain. 

She felt his hands on her shoulders, pushing her back a little and their lips separated with a wet click. She stared up at him, eyes blown wide as she tried to work out what he was doing. 

“Col…” she tried to lean into him again, craning her neck for another kiss before the stinging finality of rejection caught up to her and threatened to undo her completely. But he still kept her at arms’ length and Missy felt sick.

“What’s wrong with you?” she asked, quickly deflecting. As if Colin was the one acting oddly. 

[for-tylove]

"Now where would be the fun in that?" Ty chirped, hating the flip his stomach gave at the sound of his name in Colin's mouth. Like, fine, the bar was on the fucking floor, but Colin was still one of the few people who growing up had bothered to pronounce his name right. Colin's Spanish had always been good, the two of them sitting crosslegged in the dark of their dorm as Ty taught him the filthiest curse words, the other boy's pronounciation perfect as he copied Ty. Ty had envied how good, actually. After a time Spanish had begun to sound foreign on Ty's tongue, clumsy and thick in his heavy, frat-boy American twang. But Colin's had always been near perfect. Ty's Father had promised him, bright eyed, that one day he would hear his name over the announcements at Wimbledon, perfectly pronounced. To this day, Ty was still rolling his eyes as sports reporters pronounced the L's in Castillo.

"I wanted to surprise you." he shrugged, his shoulders unintentionally lifting, a perfect mirror image of the man standing before him. "Why would you go home now? Fun's just getting started, man."

A mischevious glint in his eye, Ty's hand left the place where it was perched atop the net, venturing across the clearly defined yet unspoken barricade between them. Til now, Ty had kept a respectable - if you could call anything about Ty and Colin's relationship respectable - distance. He knew the effect he could have on the other man with just a well placed touch of his hand, he'd had so much fun with it when they were younger, watching every inch of Colin's body react to him. Now, he leaned forward, closing his fingers around Colin's wrist in a gesture that was anything but light.

"We're not done." he stated, a hard edge creeping his tone, all hints of playfulness erased. He held Colin's gaze, brown eyes boring into Colin's blue. They were a lesson in unfinished business, and though years had stretched out between them, Colin's body turning hard and fighting fit as he seemingly steeled himself against any pleasant memories of Ty, nothing between them would truly be done, over. They hadn't even had a satisfactory goodbye. It hadn't come to blows, or a rain-soaked tear-stricken declaration, they had merely given up on each other. In Colin's eyes, Ty had chosen Laura, and he wasn't sure he'd ever really be forgiven for that.

Verbal blows, however? It seemed they were fair game. The hard, emotionless mask slid from Ty's face for a mere second before he quickly built all of his walls back up, desperate for Colin not to see just how deeply those words had hit home. His fingers tightened briefly on Colin's wrist, grasp sweaty in the Afternoon sun, the closest Ty would probably be to Colin ever again, aside from press and friendly handshakes and involuntarily touches. It stung, that someone you had once loved so deeply, who had carved out a place in your heart, could now be nothing but a stranger. He dropped Colin's wrist with some venom, a lazy, crooked smile making its way onto his lips.

"Tsk, is that true, Col?" he shrugged, "You know me, I care a lot. It's kinda my whole thing."

Turning his back on Colin, he moved to retrieve his racket, giving it a hefty swing in mid-air.

"I came to reignite the rivalry. That's how much I care."

Even at his worst, Matthias always looked better than everyone else in any given room. Colin wasn’t about to admit that out loud – hell, he’d probably never admit that anyone looked better than himself – but he was no fool. As his eyes scanned the other man, his gaze clung to familiar corners of his body; The freckle just below his left eye, almost a perfect match to the one on the right side of his neck, just below his chin; A tiny scar along his bicep that Colin still blamed himself for to this day – courtesy of the two of them thinking that their 18 year old selves could handle a 3am game of tennis after going on a bender. Ty had been of slightly sounder mind than Colin and had won their game, resulting in an excitable Colin pouncing on the other boy, the two tumbling to the floor and smashing a bottle of cheap wine in the process. The shards had nicked Ty’s arm – barely noticeable to the naked eye, but Colin had always enjoyed tracing kisses along the blemish, wanting to mark his friend in newer, gentler ways. 

Not that he wanted to think of his old friend like that anymore. He couldn’t afford to. Anxiety continued to build in his chest as his ex – was that what they were? Fuck. – closed the distance between them, now mere inches away on the other side of the net. 

“Well, if you wanted to play you should’ve requested a challenge, Castillo,” Colin sighed, feigning indifference. He offered up a casual shrug before gesturing around them, and then towards his own, naked torso. It wasn’t some kind of sick and twisted seduction technique, but an acknowledgement of his current state. “I wasn’t about to stand around on this court all day waiting for people to show up when they got bored, man. I’m done. I’m going home.” 

That, of course, wasn’t entirely true. He had intended to get a little more practice in after his few games, though he hadn’t anticipated an audience. The courts were open to all, obviously. He couldn’t send Matthias away, nor could he claim the space as his own, but he still wasn’t happy with the other man’s presence. If the two of them really had to see each other throughout the competition, Colin would much rather keep it at a minimum. 

In truth – and another thing Colin would never be caught dead admitting – Matthias was the better player of the two. Despite this, he was lazy. Colin had spent years frustrated and overbearing as he’d tried to drill it into his best friend just how good he could be. Right now, Matthias Jiminez was a great player, but Colin knew better than anybody that he could be magnificent – spectacular, even. The last thing he needed right now, at his own prime, was for the other man to be keeping a watchful eye over him, relearning his tells and weaknesses, and deciding that now was the time to give a shit about the sport Colin had dedicated his whole entire life and career to. 

“Why would I be happy to see you? You’re nothing to me,” Colin breathed, his voice low, catching on the lie. 

A sharp pain seared in his chest as Colin’s jaw clenched, wincing ever so slightly as he forced his face into a neutral expression. The mere idea of saying something so hateful and, ultimately, untrue to Matthias still didn’t sit right with him. Nothing about their situation sat right with him, even after all these years, but he wouldn’t let the other player to get the better of him. Not on the court, nor off it. He couldn’t be seen as this weak, pathetic and pining loser while the whole world was on their knees for the only man he’d ever... 

Whatever. 

Sweat dripped down Colin’s neck and chest as the scorching sun shone down on the two of them, the weight of his words simply sitting between them. Colin wasn’t entirely sure he wanted to see the look on Ty’s face when he felt the impact of them – though, the more he thought about it, the more he doubted he gave a single shit how Colin felt about him.  The last time Colin had seen him, he’d been hit with the aching realisation that, of the two, Matthias had either been far better at concealing his true feelings, or the stoic, nonchalance he’d worn so proudly on his features had been an accurate representation of how he’d really felt about Colin finally walking away from what they had. 

“Don’t pretend you care, Ty,” he sighed, ducking his head. He scuffed the toe of his sneakers against the astroturf below, using the action as a feeble distraction from the dull throb in his skull that was steadily increasing. 

[skyguywrites]

❗️= old or important threads/threads to prioritise. bold = ship thread. italics = important/defining plot.

dan owes.

❗️henry/diego3 - 27 june // 9 notes // opp: michaela

marley/poppy1 - 29 july // 2 notes // opp: michaela

ezra/kian1 - 8 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/amelia1 - 11 aug // 0 notes // opp: michaela

marley/jessie2 - 14 sept // 1 note // opp: michaela

teddy/olly1 - 23 sept // 0 notes // opp: michaela

keeley/théo1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/colin1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: michaela

❗️marley/harlow2 - 29 sept // 5 notes // opp: jenny

dante/marcus1 - 30 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

❗️max/ivy2 - 7 sept // 6 notes // opp: michaela

jude/olly1 - 13 oct // 0 notes // opp: michaela

rory/bonnie1 - 5 nov // 2 notes // opp: michaela

simon/billy2 - 10 nov // 3 notes // opp: michaela

ripley/amira1 - 15 nov // 5 notes // opp: michaela

lando/théo1 - 27 nov // 4 notes // opp: michaela

henry/diego4 - 27 nov // 4 notes // opp: michaela

henry/valentina1 - 13 nov // 1 note // opp: michaela

teddy/valentina1 - 13 dec // 1 note // opp: michaela

simon/billy3 (mini) - 4 jan // 0 notes // opp/ michaela

micah/joey1 - 5 jan // 3 notes // opp: michaela

eli/annie3 - 5 jan // 2 notes // opp: michaela

heath/elodie1 - 5 jan // 2 notes // opp: michaela

❗️rafferty/maverick2 - 6 jan // 6 notes // opp: michaela

jen owes.

❗️louis/wardo4 - 26 june // 3 notes // opp: danielle

❗️maggie/amelia1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

jackson/dante2 - 12 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

ariadne/billy1 (mini) - 25 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

louis/wardo5 (mini) - 28 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

charlie/marcus1 (mini) - 29 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

❗️harlow/rafferty1 - 17 oct // 10 notes // opp: danielle

killian/amira4 - 08 nov // 4 notes // opp: michaela

chess/ivy3 - 10 nov // 4 notes // opp: michaela

noah/flynn1 - 11 nov // 3 notes // opp: michaela

matthias/colin3 (flashback, mini) - 14 nov // 6 notes // opp: michaela

maggie/marcus1 (mini) - 27 nov // 3 notes // opp: michaela

ariadne/valentina1 (mini) - 31 dec // 3 notes // opp: michaela

matthias/simon1 - 2 jan // 2 notes // opp: danielle

matthias/colin4 (mini) - 5 jan // 5 notes // opp: michaela

❗️harlow/raff/maverick1 - 6 jan // 6 notes // opp: danielle & michaela

michaela owes.

persephone/bradley2 - 16 oct // 2 notes // opp: danielle

théo/jax1 (mini) - 13 nov // 1 note // opp: jenny

persephone/charlie1 (mini) - 24 nov // 1 note // opp: jenny

poppy/noah3 - 24 nov // 1 note // opp: jenny

❗️jasper/ariadne1 (mini) - 24 nov // 4 notes // opp: jenny

kian/ezra2 (mini) - 5 dec // 4 notes // opp: michaela

amelia/ripley1 - 2nd jan // 3 notes // opp: danielle

ARCHIVED.

amira/joey1. | amira/killian1. amira/killian2. amira/killian3. annie/eli1. annie/eli2. | annie/jax1.

billy/simon1.

bradley/persephone1.

charlie/elodie1.

chess/diego1. | chess/henry1. chess/ivy1. chess/ivy2. | chess/joey1. | chess/matty1. chess/matty2.

colin/matthias1. colin/matthias2.

dante/jax1.

diego/henry1. diego/henry2. diego/henry3.

eli/matty1.

flynn/rae1. | flynn/wardo1.

harlow/ivy1. | harlow/marley1. | harlow/maverick1.

henry/ivy1. | henry/poppy1.

ivy/louis1. ivy/louis2. ivy/louis3. | ivy/max1. | ivy/raff1. | ivy/wardo1.

jax/matty1.

jess/marley1.

joey/scotty1.

kian/louis1.

killian/matty1.

louis/max1. | louis/scotty1. | louis/wardo1. louis/wardo2. louis/wardo3.

mav/raff1. | mav/wardo1.

noah/poppy1. noah/poppy2.

persephone/jax1. persephone/jax2. | persephone/ripley1.

poppy/wardo1.

[skyguywrites]

❗️= old or important threads/threads to prioritise. bold = ship thread. italics = important/defining plot.

dan owes.

❗️henry/diego3 - 27 june // 9 notes // opp: michaela

❗️eli/annie2 - 8 july // 4 notes // opp: michaela

wardo/flynn1 - 10 july // 3 notes // opp: michaela

marley/poppy1 - 29 july // 2 notes // opp: michaela

ezra/kian1 - 8 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/amelia1 - 11 aug // 0 notes // opp: michaela

marley/jessie2 - 14 sept // 1 note // opp: michaela

teddy/olly1 - 23 sept // 0 notes // opp: michaela

keeley/théo1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/colin1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: michaela

simon/matthias1 - 24 sept // 1 note // opp: jenny

❗️marley/harlow2 - 29 sept // 5 notes // opp: jenny

dante/marcus1 - 30 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

❗️max/ivy2 - 7 sept // 6 notes // opp: michaela

jude/olly1 - 13 oct // 0 notes // opp: michaela

ripley/amelia1 - 5 nov // 2 notes // opp: michaela

rory/bonnie1 - 5 nov // 2 notes // opp: michaela

simon/billy2 - 10 nov // 3 notes // opp: michaela

ezra/kian2 (mini) - 14 nov // 3 notes // opp: michaela

ripley/amira1 - 15 nov // 5 notes // opp: michaela

lando/théo1 - 27 nov // 4 notes // opp: michaela

henry/diego4 - 27 nov // 4 notes // opp: michaela

henry/valentina1 - 13 nov // 1 note // opp: michaela

teddy/valentina1 - 13 dec // 1 note // opp: michaela

jen owes.

❗️louis/wardo4 - 26 june // 3 notes // opp: danielle

maggie/amelia1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

jackson/dante2 - 12 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

ariadne/billy1 - 25 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

louis/wardo1 (mini) - 28 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

charlie/marcus1 - 29 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

charlie/elodie1 - 02 oct // 3 notes // opp: michaela

❗️matthias/colin1 - 7 oct // 4 notes // opp: michaela

❗️harlow/rafferty1 - 17 oct // 10 notes // opp: danielle

killian/amira4 - 08 nov // 4 notes // opp: michaela

chess/ivy3 - 10 nov // 4 notes // opp: michaela

noah/flynn1 - 11 nov // 3 notes // opp: michaela

matthias/colin3 - 14 nov // 6 notes // opp: michaela

maggie/marcus1 - 27 nov // 3 notes // opp: michaela

michaela owes.

❗️flynn/rae1 - 29 sept // 6 notes // opp: danielle

micah/joey1 - 6 oct // 2 notes // opp: danielle

persephone/bradley2 - 16 oct // 2 notes // opp: danielle

❗️maverick/raff2 - 16 oct // 5 notes // opp: danielle

❗️maverick/harlow/raff1 - 17 oct // 5 notes // opp: jenny & danielle

théo/jax1 - 13 nov // 1 note // opp: jenny

persephone/charlie1 - 24 nov // 1 note // opp: jenny

poppy/noah3 - 24 nov // 1 note // opp: jenny

jasper/ariadne1 - 24 nov // 4 notes // opp: jenny

kian/ezra2 (mini) - 5 dec // 4 notes // opp: michaela

ARCHIVED.

amira/joey1. | amira/killian1. amira/killian2. amira/killian3. annie/eli1. | annie/jax1.

billy/simon1.

bradley/persephone1.

chess/diego1. | chess/henry1. chess/ivy1. chess/ivy2. | chess/joey1. | chess/matty1. chess/matty2.

colin/matthias2.

dante/jax1.

diego/henry1. diego/henry2. diego/henry3.

eli/matty1.

harlow/ivy1. | harlow/marley1. | harlow/maverick1.

henry/ivy1. | henry/poppy1.

ivy/louis1. ivy/louis2. ivy/louis3. | ivy/max1. | ivy/raff1. | ivy/wardo1.

jax/matty1.

jess/marley1.

joey/scotty1.

kian/louis1.

killian/matty1.

louis/max1. | louis/scotty1. | louis/wardo1. louis/wardo2. louis/wardo3.

mav/raff1. | mav/wardo1.

noah/poppy1. noah/poppy2.

persephone/jax1. persephone/jax2. | persephone/ripley1.

poppy/wardo1.

[skyguywrites]

❗️= old or important threads/threads to prioritise. bold = ship thread. italics = important/defining plot.

dan owes.

❗️henry/diego3 - 27 june // 9 notes // opp: michaela

❗️eli/annie2 - 8 july // 4 notes // opp: michaela

wardo/flynn1 - 10 july // 3 notes // opp: michaela

marley/poppy1 - 29 july // 2 notes // opp: michaela

henry/diego4 - 6 aug // 2 notes // opp: michaela

ezra/kian1 - 8 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/amelia1 - 11 aug // 0 notes // opp: michaela

marley/jessie2 - 14 sept // 1 note // opp: michaela

teddy/olly1 - 23 sept // 0 notes // opp: michaela

keeley/théo1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/colin1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: michaela

simon/matthias1 - 24 sept // 1 note // opp: jenny

❗️marley/harlow2 - 29 sept // 5 notes // opp: jenny

dante/marcus1 - 30 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

❗️max/ivy2 - 7 sept // 6 notes // opp: michaela

jude/olly1 - 13 oct // 0 notes // opp: michaela

ripley/amelia1 - 5 nov // 2 notes // opp: michaela

rory/bonnie1 - 5 nov // 2 notes // opp: michaela

simon/billy2 - 10 nov // 3 notes // opp: michaela

ezra/kian2 (mini) - 14 nov // 3 notes // opp: michaela

ripley/amira1 - 15 nov // 5 notes // opp: michaela

jen owes.

❗️louis/wardo4 - 26 june // 3 notes // opp: danielle

charlie/persephone1 - 7 aug // 0 notes // opp: michaela

maggie/amelia1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

ariadne/jasper1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

jackson/dante2 - 12 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

ariadne/billy1 - 25 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

louis/wardo1 (mini) - 28 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

charlie/marcus1 - 29 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

charlie/elodie1 - 02 oct // 3 notes // opp: michaela

❗️matthias/colin1 - 7 oct // 4 notes // opp: michaela

noah/poppy3 - 13 oct // 0 notes // opp: michaela

❗️harlow/rafferty1 - 17 oct // 10 notes // opp: danielle

killian/amira4 - 08 nov // 4 notes // opp: michaela

chess/ivy3 - 10 nov // 4 notes // opp: michaela

noah/flynn1 - 11 nov // 3 notes // opp: michaela

matthias/colin3 - 14 nov // 6 notes // opp: michaela

michaela owes.

marcus/maggie1 - 24 sept // 2 notes // opp: jenny

théo/lando1 - 28 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

❗️flynn/rae1 - 29 sept // 6 notes // opp: danielle

micah/joey1 - 6 oct // 2 notes // opp: danielle

persephone/bradley2 - 16 oct // 2 notes // opp: danielle

❗️maverick/raff2 - 16 oct // 5 notes // opp: danielle

❗️maverick/harlow/raff1 - 17 oct // 5 notes // opp: jenny & danielle

théo/jax1 - 13 nov // 1 note // opp: jenny

[skyguywrites]

❗️= old or important threads/threads to prioritise. bold = ship thread. italics = important/defining plot.

dan owes.

❗️henry/diego3 - 27 june // 9 notes // opp: michaela

❗️raff/mav/harlow1 - 30 june // 4 notes // opp: michaela/jenny

❗️eli/annie2 - 8 july // 4 notes // opp: michaela

wardo/flynn1 - 10 july // 3 notes // opp: michaela

marley/poppy1 - 29 july // 2 notes // opp: michaela

henry/diego4 - 6 aug // 2 notes // opp: michaela

ezra/kian1 - 8 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/amelia1 - 11 aug // 0 notes // opp: michaela

ripley/amira1 - 13 aug // 3 notes // opp: michaela

bradley/sephy2 - 2 sept // 1 note // opp: michaela

marley/jessie2 - 14 sept // 1 note // opp: michaela

❗️raff/mav2 - 19 sept // 4 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/olly1 - 23 sept // 0 notes // opp: michaela

keeley/théo1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/colin1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: michaela

simon/matthias1 - 24 sept // 1 note // opp: jenny

❗️marley/harlow2 - 29 sept // 5 notes // opp: jenny

dante/marcus1 - 30 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

❗️max/ivy2 - 7 sept // 6 notes // opp: michaela

❗️rafferty/harlow1 - 8 sept // 9 notes // opp: jenny

jude/olly1 - 13 oct // 0 notes // opp: michaela

jen owes.

❗️louis/wardo4 - 26 june // 3 notes // opp: danielle

charlie/persephone1 - 7 aug // 0 notes // opp: michaela

maggie/amelia1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

ariadne/jasper1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

❗️jackson/annie1 - 4 sept // 4 notes // opp: michaela

jackson/dante2 - 12 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

billy/ariadne1 - 25 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

louis/wardo1 (mini) - 28 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

charlie/marcus1 - 29 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

charlie/elodie1 - 02 oct // 3 notes // opp: michaela

❗️matthias/colin1 - 7 oct // 4 notes // opp: michaela

❗️matthias/colin1 (mini) - 7 oct // 7 notes // opp: michaela

noah/poppy3 - 13 oct // 0 notes // opp: michaela

michaela owes.

amelia/ripley1 - 5 sept // 1 note // opp: danielle

bonnie/rory1 - 14 sept // 1 note // opp: danielle

ivy/chess3 - 14 sept // 3 notes // opp: jenny

kian/louis1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: jenny

marcus/maggie1 - 24 sept // 2 notes // opp: jenny

billy/simon2 - 24 sept // 2 notes // opp: danielle

kian/ezra1 (mini) - 24 sept // 2 notes // opp: danielle

théo/lando1 - 28 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

❗️flynn/rae1 - 29 sept // 6 notes // opp: danielle

scotty/louis1 - 5 oct // 3 notes // opp: jenny

❗️matty/chess2 - 5 oct // 9 notes // opp: jenny

micah/joey1 - 6 oct // 2 notes // opp: danielle

flynn/noah1 - 8 oct // 2 notes // opp: jenny

amira/killian4 - 8 oct // 3 notes // opp: jenny

[skyguywrites]

key:

❗️= old or important threads/threads to prioritise. bold = ship thread. italics = important/defining plot.

dan owes.

❗️henry/diego3 - 27 june // 9 notes // opp: michaela

❗️raff/mav/harlow1 - 30 june // 4 notes // opp: michaela/jenny

❗️max/ivy2 - 7 july // 4 notes // opp: michaela

❗️eli/annie2 - 8 july // 4 notes // opp: michaela

wardo/flynn1 - 10 july // 3 notes // opp: michaela

marley/poppy1 - 29 july // 2 notes // opp: michaela

henry/diego4 - 6 aug // 2 notes // opp: michaela

ezra/kian1 - 8 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/amelia1 - 11 aug // 0 notes // opp: michaela

joey/micah1 - 12 aug // 1 note // opp: michaela

ripley/amira1 - 13 aug // 3 notes // opp: michaela

bradley/sephy2 - 2 sept // 1 note // opp: michaela

❗️rae/flynn1 - 4 sept // 5 notes // opp: michaela

marley/jessie2 - 14 sept // 1 note // opp: michaela

❗️raff/mav2 - 19 sept // 4 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/olly1 - 23 sept // 0 notes // opp: michaela

keeley/théo1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: michaela

teddy/colin1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: michaela

simon/matthias1 - 24 sept // 1 note // opp: jenny

marley/harlow2 - 29 sept // 5 notes // opp: jenny

dante/marcus1 - 30 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

jen owes.

❗️harlow/rafferty1 - 25 june // 8 notes // opp: danielle

❗️louis/wardo4 - 26 june // 3 notes // opp: danielle

matthias/colin1 - 29 july // 4 notes // opp: michaela

charlie/persephone1 - 7 aug // 0 notes // opp: michaela

noah/flynn1 - 12 aug // 1 note // opp: michaela

maggie/amelia1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

ariadne/jasper1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // opp: michaela

louis/scotty1 - 14 aug // 2 notes // opp: michaela

killian/amira1 - 31 aug // 2 notes // opp: michaela

jackson/annie1 - 4 sept // 4 notes // opp: michaela

jackson/dante2 - 12 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

matthias/colin1 (moment) - 24 sept // 5 notes // opp: michaela

billy/ariadne1 - 25 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

louis/wardo1 (moment) - 28 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

❗️chess/matty2 - 29 sept // 8 notes // opp: michaela

charlie/marcus1 - 29 sept // 2 notes // opp: michaela

michaela owes.

amelia/ripley1 - 5 sept // 1 note // opp: danielle

bonnie/rory1 - 14 sept // 1 note // opp: danielle

ivy/chess3 - 14 sept // 3 notes // opp: jenny

colin/matthias1 (moment) - 24 sept // 6 notes // opp: jenny

kian/louis1 - 24 sept // 3 notes // opp: jenny

marcus/maggie1 - 24 sept // 2 notes // opp: jenny

billy/simon2 - 24 sept // 2 notes // opp: danielle

kian/ezra1 (moment) - 24 sept // 2 notes // opp: danielle

théo/lando1 - 28 sept // 3 notes // opp: danielle

❗️flynn/rae1 - 29 sept // 6 notes // opp: danielle

elodie/charlie1 - 29 sept // 2 notes // opp: jenny

[skyguywrites]

key:

❗️= old or important threads/threads to prioritise. bold = ship thread. italics = important/defining plot.

dan owes.

simon/billy2 - 6 june // 1 note // started 2 mths ago

dante/marcus1 - 16 june // 0 notes // started 2 mths ago

lando/théo1 - 26 june // 2 notes // started 2 mths ago

❗️henry/diego3 - 27 june // 9 notes // started 8 mths ago

❗️raff/mav/harlow1 - 30 june // 4 notes // started 7 mths ago

❗️max/ivy2 - 7 july // 4 notes // started 8 mths ago

❗️eli/annie2 - 8 july // 4 notes // started 7 mths ago

wardo/flynn1 - 10 july // 3 notes // started 7 mths ago

marley/poppy1 - 29 july // 2 notes // started 7 mths ago

henry/diego4 - 6 aug // 2 notes // started 2 mths ago

ezra/kian1 - 8 aug // 4 notes // started 2 mths ago

teddy/amelia1 - 11 aug // 0 notes // started 1 mth ago

teddy/colin1 - 11 aug // 2 notes // started 1 mth ago

joey/micah1 - 12 aug // 1 note // started 1 mth ago

ripley/amira1 - 13 aug // 3 notes // started 7 mths ago

bradley/sephy2 - 2 sept // 1 note // started 1 mth ago

❗️rae/flynn1 - 4 sept // 5 notes // started 7 mths ago

marley/jessie2 - 14 sept // 1 note // started 1 week ago

wardo/louis1 (moment) - 19 sept // 0 notes

❗️raff/mav2 - 19 sept // 4 notes // started 9 mths ago

jen owes.

❗️harlow/rafferty1 - 25 june // 8 notes // 9 mths ago

harlow/marley1 - 26 june // 4 notes // 8 mths ago

❗️louis/wardo4 - 26 june // 3 notes // 5 mths ago

louis/kian1 - 26 june // 2 notes // 3 mths ago

maggie/marcus1 - 23 july // 1 note // 2 mths ago

matthias/colin1 - 29 july // 4 notes // 2 mths ago

charlie/persephone1 - 7 aug // 0 notes // 1 mth ago

charlie/elodie1 - 8 aug // 1 note // 1 mth ago

matthias/simon1 - 11 aug // 0 notes /// 1 mth ago

noah/flynn1 - 12 aug // 1 note // 1 mth ago

maggie/amelia1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // 3 mths ago

ariadne/jasper1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // 1 mth ago

louis/scotty1 - 14 aug // 2 notes // 3 mths ago

matthias/colin1 (mini) - 31 aug // 2 notes // 3 wees ago

killian/amira1 - 31 aug // 2 notes // 3 mths ago

jackson/annie1 - 4 sept // 4 notes // 5 mths ago

jackson/dante2 - 12 sept // 3 notes // 2 mths ago

louis/wardo1 (moment) - 19 sept // 1 note

michaela owes.

théo/keeley1 - 6 aug // 2 notes // 3 mths ago

billy/ariadne1 - 6 aug // 1 note // 1 mth ago

colin/teddy1 - 11 aug // 2 notes // 1 mth ago

❗️matty/chess2 - 12 aug // 7 notes // 5 mths ago

amelia/ripley1 - 5 sept // 1 note // 1 mth ago

bonnie/rory1 - 14 sept // 1 note // 1 week ago

ivy/chess3 - 14 sept // 3 notes // 4 mths ago

marcus/charlie1 - 19 sept // 1 note // 1 mth ago

[skyguywrites]

key:

❗️= old or important threads/threads to prioritise. bold = ship thread. italics = important/defining plot.

dan owes.

simon/billy2 - 6 june // 1 note // started 2 mths ago

dante/marcus1 - 16 june // 0 notes // started 2 mths ago

lando/théo1 - 26 june // 2 notes // started 2 mths ago

❗️henry/diego3 - 27 june // 9 notes // started 8 mths ago

❗️raff/mav/harlow1 - 30 june // 4 notes // started 7 mths ago

❗️max/ivy2 - 7 july // 4 notes // started 8 mths ago

❗️eli/annie2 - 8 july // 4 notes // started 7 mths ago

wardo/flynn1 - 10 july // 3 notes // started 7 mths ago

marley/poppy1 - 29 july // 2 notes // started 7 mths ago

henry/diego4 - 6 aug // 2 notes // started 2 mths ago

ezra/kian1 - 8 aug // 4 notes // started 2 mths ago

teddy/amelia1 - 11 aug // 0 notes // started 1 mth ago

joey/micah1 - 12 aug // 1 note // started 1 mth ago

ripley/amira1 - 13 aug // 3 notes // started 7 mths ago

bradley/sephy2 - 2 sept // 1 note // started 1 mth ago

❗️rae/flynn1 - 4 sept // 5 notes // 7 mths ago

marley/jessie2 - 14 sept // 1 note // 2 days ago

jen owes.

❗️harlow/rafferty1 - 25 june // 8 notes // 9 mths ago

harlow/marley1 - 26 june // 4 notes // 8 mths ago

❗️louis/wardo4 - 26 june // 3 notes // 5 mths ago

❗️louis/ivy3 - 26 june // 14 notes // 5 mths ago

louis/kian1 - 26 june // 2 notes // 3 mths ago

maggie/marcus1 - 23 july // 1 note // 2 mths ago

matthias/colin1 - 29 july // 4 notes // 2 mths ago

charlie/marcus1 - 6 aug // 0 notes // 1 mth ago

charlie/persephone1 - 7 aug // 0 notes // 1 mth ago

charlie/elodie1 - 8 aug // 1 note // 1 mth ago

matthias/simon1 - 11 aug // 0 notes /// 1 mth ago

noah/flynn1 - 12 aug // 1 note // 1 mth ago

maggie/amelia1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // 3 mths ago

ariadne/jasper1 - 13 aug // 4 notes // 1 mth ago

louis/scotty1 - 14 aug // 2 notes // 3 mths ago

matthias/colin1 (mini) - 31 aug // 2 notes // 1 week ago

killian/amira1 - 31 aug // 2 notes // 3 mths ago

jackson/annie1 - 4 sept // 4 notes // 5 mths ago

jackson/dante2 - 12 sept // 3 notes // 2 mths ago

michaela owes.

théo/keeley1 - 6 aug // 2 notes // 3 mths ago

billy/ariadne1 - 6 aug // 1 note // 1 mth ago

colin/teddy1 - 11 aug // 2 notes // 1 mth ago

❗️matty/chess2 - 12 aug // 7 notes // 5 mths ago

amelia/ripley1 - 5 sept // 1 note // 1 mth ago

bonnie/rory1 - 14 sept // 1 note // 1 day ago

ivy/chess3 - 14 sept // 3 notes // 4 mths ago

❗️mav/raff2 - 15 sept // 3 notes // 9 mths ago

[drmissymaclean]

Missy craned her neck as she tried to kiss Colin again, trying to push past the ugly feeling creeping up inside of her when she realised he was avoiding her. Her lips bumped clumsily off of his in a way that made her top lip feel like it was aching for a certain sort of pressure in a specific spot. It didn’t make sense. She knew it didn’t make sense. But her lips hadn’t pressed against Colin’s correctly and now she needed them to.

Trying to explain this aloud would make her sound insane, she knew that. She’d tried to get it all out in the open before. Back in high school, she’d sat jiggling her leg in her guidance counsellor’s office, stumbling through an awkward explanation.

“It’s like if I step on a tile and I don’t step on the exact right part of the tile, everything feels off-balance,” she explained and her counselor, a tired looking woman with a ginger bob, had peered over her clipboard at her and offered her a kind smile.

“I understand. You’re scared of stepping on cracks. Like the old wives’ tale,” she’d said and Missy had felt like screaming.

“No. It has nothing to do with cracks,” she’d said, hysteria creeping into her tone and making the smile vanish from her guidance counsellor’s face. “It’s like… every part of my foot has to align perfectly where I step or I have to go back and do it again.”

The blank look she’d gotten from the other woman had made her sink back in the chair and eventually agree that yeah, she just didn’t want to step on a crack.

If she tried to explain all of that to Colin right now, she knew she’d probably be met with the same bemused expression, so she tried to kiss him again. To fix the issue. Press her lips against his just right so she wouldn’t spend the rest of the evening feeling that phantom sensation on her mouth and the sickening feeling in her stomach that made her believe everything was about to go south.

As she tried to lean in again though, he kept her at a distance. The realisation made her feel like someone had dumped a bucket of cold water over her and she stared up at him, brown eyes blown wide with hurt.

“What? No, I don’t… I don’t want a drink, Col,” she said, shaking her head when the latter end of his sentence caught up with her.

He thought she looked wiped.

She’d spent hours on end in the lab today, dusting off an old bone that had been shipped to them all the way from Peru. It wasn’t ready for inspection yet, but she’d been on her feet from 8am, skipping lunch to carry out the task as meticulously as possible. It had left her with a crick in her neck that she couldn’t quite shake and that only added to the sensation of wrongness.

Missy knew she wasn’t looking great. She knew she looked wiped, but hearing Colin say it didn’t help matters and she frowned up at him.

“It’s that smooth charm that gets all the girls, huh?” she snapped. Her skin prickled and she felt that one spot on her lip flare up with awareness again. As if to settle it, she trapped her lip between her teeth and pressed her tongue against the sensitive area, quickly turning away from Colin.

“Is this what the set-up for tonight is going to be? ‘Cause I know I said I’d slept with guys who liked degrading me but I didn’t think that was our thing,” she told him, voice hoarse as her hand gripped tightly at her own wrist. God, she wanted to claw her skin off.

Colin wasn’t unaccustomed to texts from Missy asking if she could stop by his after work. They had a routine that they’d happily fallen into in which she’d stop by the penthouse, or sometimes the boat, and they’d rarely do much else but fuck until they were sweaty and aching, Colin’s tongue lathering her skin as he pressed kisses to her most tender spots. Missy's company was a welcome comfort, the two of them maintaining a silent agreement that whatever shit was going on in their lives could be left behind the second she crossed the threshold into his bachelor pad. 

He’d been out when she’d texted him, getting in a little practice time with Tanner before meeting Ty for lunch. He’d happily agreed to have her over that evening, knowing that whatever plans he had for the day could easily be wrapped up by the time she got off work. After leaving Ty, he’d managed to pick up Bella, drop her off with her mom and still found the time to stop by Ariadne’s place. With ample time before he needed to be back home, he’d spent the better half of two hours tangled in the blonde’s bedsheets, fingers sinking into her thighs as she’d ridden his face before letting him fuck her senseless, filthy moans spilling from her lips. Then, he’d kissed her goodbye, headed home, and managed to sneak in a quick shower before Missy arrived. 

Clad now in a half open button-down (he figured his glistening chest should at least be on display if nothing else) and a comfortable pair of sweats – slung low at his hips and fitted perfectly to highlight the outline of his erection (boxers hadn’t been a priority when he knew they wouldn’t be staying on for long) – he smirked as he tugged the door open for Missy. Colin wasn’t stupid, he knew how good he looked, and he was certain Missy would agree. 

The door was barely open before she was on him, proving him right as she parted his lips with her tongue, hands scrambling to grasp at his shirt. His own hands found her waist, holding her steadily against him as he kissed her back, hungry and desperate for more. Something seemed a little off about it all, though. Kissing Missy was always fun, there was no denying it, but everything about the way she was touching him right now felt so forced, so precise. 

Positive he was going to live to regret it, Colin’s hand came up to rest against her shoulder, thumb tenderly tracing her clavicle as he broke the kiss and pushed her away. 

His eyes scanned Missy as she protested, their separation finally allowing him to properly look at her for the first time that weekend. She looked exhausted and so completely unlike herself. Not that she didn’t look great, she always did. Missy was arguably the most gorgeous woman he’d ever met, and Colin Nash was no stranger to sleeping with beautiful women. All the same, she wore bags under her eyes, hair spilling from the tight constraints of the scrunchie she’d opted for that morning. Even as she stared at him, her eyes glazed over, hardly seeming to see him at all. 

“Nothing wrong with me, baby,” he insisted with a sigh. 

Releasing his hold on her, he lifted a hand to rub awkwardly at the back of his neck, feeling guilty about deflated look she was currently wore. It wasn’t in Colin’s nature to reject pretty girls. He could just as easily lean in, pull her into his arms and fuck her there and then against the doorframe if that was what she wanted. That would be the easy thing to do, but not necessarily the right thing. 

“You wanna come in and grab a drink first? You look pretty wiped, sweetheart,” he shrugged. Colin wasn’t exactly good at feelings. 

[for-tylove]

From his position on the floor, Matthias couldn't help but smirk into his lap. In mere seconds, he'd gone from experiencing a tumultuous cocktail of anxiety and irritation to amusement. It was almost like it was easier to fight with Colin, he thought, as he pulled his body taut like a bowstring, stretching out his overworked limbs like listening to Colin was the absolute last thing on his mind. Over ten years and within seconds they'd fallen back into their usual sparring match, quick comments from fierce tongues until one of them boiled over and snapped. It was never the same outcome each time, which one of them would break first.

And ah, yes. There it was. To an untrained eye, that could've been it, a few harsh words exchanged between competitors, to be dealt with on the court at a later date. And whilst they would take it out on each other on the court, both men were incapable of leaving an argument unfinished. As Ty lifted his eyes, he watched the other man stretch to his full height, sheer fury on his face as he began to make his way over.

Ty knew how to press every single one of his buttons. There had been a time when he'd have done anything in the world not to fight with his best friend, to be the one coaxing him back into a state of calm when he was riled up on the court, sinking a hand into his hair, placating him with his lips. But Ty had gotten better and better at being crueller. If the boy he'd been in his first year of boarding school saw him now, the boy who would've done anything to bask in Colin Nash's glow, he doubted he'd recognise himself. At some point, it had become second nature to twist the knife, throw out a well-placed comment that would either have Colin shoving his chest or taking him to bed. They were bad for each other, everyone thought so. A volcano lying dormant, ready to explode. His Mamá had certainly thought so. He wondered what she thought when over the summer he stopped bringing Colin home and had started bringing Laura instead?

He watched as Colin discarded his racket, with a lack of care he'd never previously had shown. Colin had always been fussy and fastidious about his equipment, knowing he was in no position to replace it if it got broken. Ty supposed things had changed now. He lifted himself to his feet, the smirk being wiped off his face as Colin tugged his loose curls in a bun at the nape of his neck. It caused something low and feral to stir in his stomach. He'd never known Colin with long hair, but he'd fucked plenty of pretty boys who had long hair, and he allowed his imagination to run away with him. He could just about picture Colin tying back his long hair right before he sunk to his knees.

Except, Ty didn't think about fucking Colin. Not anymore. He didn't think about Colin, period.

"Why do you think I'm here?" he quirked an eyebrow, the edge of defense in his voice. He could see the way Colin's eyes skated over his features, and he didn't like it. He knew he didn't look his best, his tennis shorts rumpled from being shoved in a ball in his gym bag, tired from a long night sleeping next to a stranger. He squared his shoulders, edging closer to the net, forcing closeness with Colin. "I want to play."

Colin had always been good at catching the double meaning in his words. He hadn't shown up today hoping to antagonise Colin, merely to scope out the competition. It just so happened the competition was Colin. And this had always been their favorite game, toying with each other, fighting dirty. He smiled then, a gentility to his features he wasn't sure he even possessed anymore.

He huffed out a laugh, bracing his hand atop the net.

"I used to be sweet." he shrugged, giving Colin a smile. "You know better than anyone I can be sweet. Aren't you happy to see me, Colin?"

Colin regretted his words almost instantly. He hadn’t seen the harm in them to begin with, not until he’d heard Ty’s smartass retort. Even from across the courts, he could still place that smug little smirk on his perfect, plump lips.  

God, those lips. 

“Not awkward, no. Just irritated,” Colin let his voice carry, barely stealing another glance Ty’s way. 

There was no point, not now that he’d seen him in all his glory. He knew how good he looked – how good he’d always looked. Nothing had changed from last week when he’d angrily scrolled the other man’s instagram, nor from this morning when he’d caught sight of him with that gorgeous blond, the two of them sweating in the gym, matching smiles plain on their faces. He had no idea who the fuck Simon was – Ty's boyfriend, no doubt; It was no secret that Ty had come out publicly since the years they’d been intimate – but the sight of the two of them cosied up together had only fueled Colin’s anger for the day. If nothing else good had come from him seeing the photo, it had at least geared him up for his three perfect games today. 

The comment about their chemistry had smarted, the sheer gall of it rubbing Colin up the wrong way. He wasn’t stupid enough to deny – to Ty’s face, no less – that the two of them had chemistry, and he wasn’t about to shove aside the years that the two had spent desperately chasing the other’s approval, but it pissed him off just how casual the other man could be. Just because Ty was confident in his sexuality and comfortable with the whole world knowing who he fucked, that didn’t give him the right to talk so openly – even in jest – about Colin’s own leanings. He felt no shame in his attraction to men – not like he had during his teens and early twenties – but he knew that coming out would be a poor career move. The press were vultures, and if they’d ever gotten wind of Colin’s family's financial history, his adoption, his sexuality – or, God forbid, all three at once – he'd be in for a rude awakening. It could ruin him, just as it could humiliate his family. 

Matthias knew this. Better than anyone, Matthias knew him. 

Alas, years had passed, and Colin found himself reckoning with the idea that maybe, over that time, his best friend had simply forgotten. Perhaps, 13 years on, their friendship a distant memory, Matthias had wiped the slate clean and washed away every inch of Colin Nash that had stained his skin. It certainly seemed that way, and Colin hated just how much that bothered him. 

He pushed to his feet abruptly, feeling anger rise in his chest. Who the fuck did Matthias think he was, anyway? Colin had put out a call for potential challengers the night before, and Ty hadn’t responded. Truthfully, he hadn’t wanted him to, but now that he was standing there, one court over, Colin suddenly felt the urge to break something. Why was he here now? He knew he couldn’t be here to train or warm up – not after his morning gym session with Sexy Simon; Ty had always been too lazy for his own good. It was as though he was simply here to taunt Colin and put him in his place. 

Unfortunately, it was working. 

Tossing his racket aside and letting it clatter across the astro-turf, Colin pushed a hand through his hair. Damp with sweat, tendrils seemed to hang loose around his face, obscuring all of his finest features. He supposed he should probably cut it, but he found he quite enjoyed how rugged the long locks made him look. Fingers combing through the curls, slicking it back as he pulled loose the hair tie on his wrist, he absently fumbled to secure it all into a lazy, messy bun. Not breaking his stride, he continued to make his way across the courts towards Matthias, stopping short until he was just a few feet away, on the other side of the net. 

The placement was perfect, really. Opponents, even now. 

“Why are you here, Ty?” he asked, letting the nickname spill from his tongue as though it had merely been days, not years. “Not competing, but here. Now.” 

Now that he had a closer look at the man, he couldn’t help but notice just how tired he looked. Bags under his eyes, his smile forced, straining against his otherwise perfect jawline. He absently wondered if that was a strange thing to take note of in a man you hadn’t seen in over a decade; Were those details that others perceived in Matthias, or did they buy into his facade and think he was as put together as he wanted them to believe? Colin had heard rumours of him sleeping in his car, hopping from motel-to-motel, stubborn down to the last cent. He knew his history, his upbringing, and Colin understood better than anybody that Matthias had always been in a better position than he and his sisters. 

The thought made him angry, suddenly. This idea that the media were painting the picture-perfect image of the sweet, helpless boy next door. Winning the hearts of the nation with his big, doe eyes as he so often did, when something far more devious lived within. 

“You love all of this shit, don’t you? Making people think you’re something you’re not. Sweet, innocent Matthias. Give me a fuckin’ break,” Colin scoffed. 

[for-tylove]

Matthias knew, when he'd chosen his lot in life (or was it better to say, lovingly nudged towards it by an overbearing Father?) that he'd set himself up for a lifetime of early mornings. In theory, he understood the importance of hitting the gym, a morning run through the city streets when the pavement wasn't completely overcrowded, he'd even learned to like those pesky little endorphins he got from exercising. Still, he didn't exactly revel in the shrill blaring of his alarm and tearing himself from a comfortable slumber. He knew how fleeting all of this was - the lifetime of a professional tennis player was, admittedly, pretty short, many an athlete done in by a dodgy knee or arthritic wrist. So until that day, Matthias would have to make his peace with getting up with the sun.

It didn't mean he had to like it.

It took him a second to place his surroundings when his alarm rang out that morning. The room was blanketed in darkness, so Ty could only just make out the faint edges and lines of furniture, curtains drawn tight against the oppressive early morning sunlight. He blinked once, twice, trying to shake off the grogginess that made him want to roll over and push his head under the pillow, put his fingers in his ears and pray his phone died a quick and merciful death. His limbs felt sluggish, heavy, like he'd overdone it at the gym, his own world-weary body pinning him to the mattress. Or was it just that the duvet over him was weighted?

Ty fumbled in the dark, alarm still blaring, as he moved to shake off the heavy mass of blankets crowding him. It wasn't until he heard a tell-tale groan from the tangle of bedsheets that he remembered he wasn't alone, and that, in fact, the tangible weight on his chest was that of another person was curled up and asleep atop his chest. Or at least - they had been asleep.

Ty had gotten into the city late last night, his bag slung over his shoulder as he stepped off the last train, ready for pre-season training. It had been too late to impose on Angelica - although he was sure she wouldn't have minded. But he didn't have a key to get into her apartment and he didn't feel like trekking across the city at the late hour, so he'd gone to Plan B - Grindr.

It wasn't always the safest and most foolproof plan. Nine times out of ten everything went fine, Ty swiping on every sweet and safe looking guy in the area til he found someone who wanted to take him home. All he had to do was engage in some light foreplay, some alcohol-fuelled kissing until Ty pleaded exhaustion and slept curled up in a stranger's bed. It had gotten him out of some tough scrapes in situations where he couldn't afford accomodation. Not to mention most of them didn't mind sharing their shower the next day.

He'd traipsed onto the tennis courts later that day, having never quite made it to Angelica's apartment, his gym bag packed full with all his personal affects plus his tennis kit. Still, to the untrained eye he looked ready for anything - showered and smelling of BigDick2461's shampoo, bright as a daisy and ready to fucking dominate.

Well, dominate was a loose term. Ty wasn't sure how ready he was to dominate quite yet. He'd been lazy over the past few months, forgoing Challengers and training for drinking and fast food. Ty had always coasted by on natural aptitude and talent, and well, audacity. Maybe he'd just take a seat on the sidelines, get the measure of his competition, whoever that might be.

A lone figure was sitting at the side of the court, sun-drenched and sweat-soaked, muscles hard and lean as he took a long swig from his water bottle. Ty felt his stomach jolt, sixteen suddenly and watching Colin dominate, actually fucking dominate from across the court, a rogueish smile on his face right before he served the ball in a way that let Ty know he was utterly fucked.

Ty dropped to the floor, losing his nerve entirely. He was certain the astroturf was making its mark on the off-white of his tennis shorts, as he stretched his tan legs out before him in a lazy mimicry of a stretch. There was no way he could make his way across the court now, not without a witty one liner and a smirk that was going to make Colin wish he were dead. He'd known, of course, that the other man would be here. Tennis circles were incestuous, eventually they all ended up playing the same people. He just wished it wasn't Colin.

Annoyingly, he still looked fucking incredible. He'd aged well, lost whatever teenage awkwardness he'd possessed - which hadn't been much - and gotten taller, hotter, and most frustratingly, better at tennis. He pelted every single fuzzy green ball across the court like he was picturing Ty's face on each one, with a precision that Ty knew he himself didn't quite possess. His stomach fizzed with anxiety as he continued his slow, pointed stretches, until Colin finally gave up, shucking his shirt over his head.

Oh, fuck you, you fucking cocktease fucking fucker, he thought.

He thought about doubling back, but stubbornness kept him rooted to his spot. He would not be chased away by pro tennis player Colin Nash, sweaty and shirtless and sexy.

He didn't realise he'd been scowling at the toes of his trainers until Colin's voice rang out in the small space, making Ty lift his head. Floppy strands of brown hair fell into his eyes and he pushed them back in frustration, squinting against the sun to survey Colin.

"Do you feel awkward around me, Col?" he called back, squaring his shoulders. "Why's that? Is it 'cause you're worried I'll beat you, or all the raw sexual chemistry?"

He smirked, pleased at having taken the low road.

"They might have to air our matches on a late night slot, or something, just to be safe."

Officially, the season didn’t start for another few weeks but – much like any sport – pre-season training was still a necessity, especially if you were about to participate in the most prestigious tournament in your sport of choice. Qualifiers had happened months ago, and now came the part where all players set themselves rigorous training routines to ensure they were in shape and at their best. For Colin, that usually meant a minimum of six hours of training, as well as an extra couple of hours hitting the gym, as well as setting up as many pre-season friendlies as he could manage. Most players were more than happy to accept, wanting to get a feel for their competition and scope out their tells. 

Sweat was rolling from Colin as he brought the back of his hand up to his forehead, swiping at the damp skin as droplets spilled onto the astro-turf beneath his feet. He’d just played three sets in a row against three different players, coming away from all of them victorious – obviously – and his chest seemed to be heaving under the New York sun, breathless as he dropped onto an empty bench and grappling for his water bottle. 

As he rummaged through his gym bag, he heard the creak of the gate opening as somebody else entered the court, and he wondered absently if he’d forgotten someone. He thought he’d cycled through all the matches he’d scheduled for the day, but it was possible he’d forgotten somebody. Taking a long swig of his water, he capped the bottle and dropped it back into the bag, reaching now for a towel to drape across his shoulders instead. Lifting his gaze to see who’d walked in, the whole world appeared to tip on its axis, his vision blurring momentarily as he stumbled to his feet, clumsy and out of sorts. 

“You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me,” he muttered under his breath. 

Matthias? 

He shouldn’t have been surprised, not really. He knew his old friend would be competing – he'd watched every qualifier, had seen the lineup, and had even snooped on the other man’s social media for updates on his training regime – but it didn’t make it any easier actually seeing him here now, so soon, when Colin hadn’t found the time to prepare himself for their reunion. Indeed, the other man’s comment on his instagram that morning had knocked him sideways, Colin’s chest aching at the cavalier way in which Ty addressed him. Mate? Really? The two of them hadn’t been anything even close to friends for over 15 years now, and he’d had the audacity to reach out to Colin like nothing had happened at all. 

No doubt it was just an attempt to psych Colin out, or maybe even some useless show of camaraderie for the sake of the fans and the media. Matthias had always tried to present himself as the cute, sweet one who got along with everybody and hated any sort of conflict. It was one big, bullshit publicity stunt, though – Colin knew better than that. 

Still, admittedly, Colin had been the first to make a move, he supposed. He’d liked Ty’s stupid comment about showing off his thighs, hoping that the simple tap of a button would be enough to send his old dormmate’s head spinning. His intent hadn’t been sportsman-like, but he hadn’t really given a shit. Now, it seemed, Ty was taking the bait and going one step further. 

It occurred to Colin, after several moments too long, that he was staring. He was stock-still on the opposite end of the court, staring gormlessly as his ex-best friend entered a public space, acting like a jilted lover watching their estranged wife get ravished by another man. It was pathetic, in all honesty, and he soon tore his eyes from the competition, and instead reached for his racket once more. 

Ball firm in his other hand, Colin begun bouncing it against the surface below, using the action as a distraction, focusing all his sudden rage and anxiety on pelting fucker against court he currently resided on. This went on for about ten minutes; Colin’s jaw set as he refused to allow his eyes to stray, firing balls across the court, never daring to glance at the court beside him, nor the man that had taken up residence on it. 

Eventually, he ran out of balls, and sweat seeped through his shirt as he paused to catch his breath. Tracking back to his bag, he whipped his shirt over his head, tugging it off as his messy, sweat-ridden hair spilled down around his eyes. Tossing the fabric aside, he reached forward to pull out his spare shirt and frowned as he realised he’d forgotten to pack the damned thing. Huffing quietly, he kicked his gym bag for good measure, before dropping back down onto the ground and stretching his legs out in front of him. 

Well, if giving Ty an eyeful while he sulked in the corner was what he had to do, then so be it. 

The trouble with that, however, was that Colin hated being left alone with his thoughts. Particularly when those thoughts were running rampant with memories of the man 20 yards away from him, all their sordid history replaying on a loop in the back of his mind. 

“So, looks like we’ve got an awkward few months ahead of us then?” Colin finally called out, lifting his voice so it could be heard across the court, still not deigning to look at the other man.