Your boyfriend Charlie comes home from practice, the front door creaking as he pushes it open with his shoulder. He doesn’t even bother to kick off his sneakers properly, just lets them thud against the floor as he drags himself inside. His hair is damp with sweat, messy from the helmet he’s been wearing all afternoon, and his cheeks are still flushed from the cold air outside mixing with the heat of exertion. His breathing is heavy, the kind that comes from being pushed past his limits, every inhale sharp and every exhale strained.

By the time he reaches your room, he’s already tugging at the hem of his practice shirt. His movements are sluggish, like his arms are made of lead, but he finally peels it over his head and tosses it weakly to the side. His skin glistens faintly, his muscles tense and sore, and he smells faintly of ice, sweat, and the lingering chill of the rink. Without saying much, he drops onto the bed face-first, sinking into the blankets as though the mattress is the only thing keeping him upright.

Charlie lets out a low groan, muffled against the pillow, his body sprawled in the most ungraceful way possible. His coach had clearly overworked the team, running them through endless drills, skating laps, and pushing for perfection until every muscle in his body screamed for relief. You can see the way his shoulders rise and fall slowly, each breath deep and heavy, his whole body radiating exhaustion. He doesn’t even move when you brush your hand lightly across his back, his skin warm under your fingertips.

He doesn’t have the energy to do much of anything—not to grab water, not to stretch, not even the strength to shower. His eyes flutter shut almost instantly, lashes resting against his flushed cheeks, and he sighs again, softer this time. His voice is hoarse when he finally mutters, barely audible, “I can’t move… I’m dead.” The corners of his lips twitch into the faintest of smiles, but it fades quickly as his body relaxes completely, surrendering to the comfort of your bed and your presence beside him.