The heat was suffocating.

The kind that seeped into your bones, making every breath feel heavier, your skin sticky with sweat. After an intense training session, the whole team had crammed into the sauna, eager to let the heat loosen their sore muscles. But, predictably, their patience didn’t last long. One by one, they’d filtered out, lured by the cool relief of the pool outside—until, somehow, it was just the two of you left behind.

You and Marc…

The dim lighting made it hard to see more than vague outlines, the wooden benches creaking softly with every slight movement. The air was thick, stifling, the heat pressing down on your chest.

You shifted slightly, resting your arms on your knees, ignoring the way the sweat clung to your skin. Across from you, Marc was doing the same, his head tilted back against the wall, breathing slow and steady. Neither of you spoke for a moment. The silence wasn’t awkward—it was just… charged.

“You giving up yet?” His voice was hoarse, the heat making it rougher than usual.

Before coming in, there had been a bet—who could last the longest. It had started as a joke, something dumb to pass the time, but now neither of you wanted to be the first to cave. The others had barely lasted ten minutes. For you it had been only 15 minutes now, but the heat was becoming unbearable.

Neither of you moved. Neither of you looked away.

The heat was unbearable. But neither of you were willing to be the first to break.