He never thought he’d end up like this—not with you of all people. Most of the time, the two of you kept things light, trading jabs, poking fun, and acting like the kind of siblings who never let each other get too serious. He was always the one quick with a comeback, the one who’d laugh off everything just to keep from showing too much. That was your rhythm, your normal. But tonight, the weight of the field followed him home, heavier than he could carry alone.

Practice hadn’t gone right. No matter how hard he pushed himself, nothing clicked. The coach’s words cut deeper than they should have, his teammates’ mistakes felt like his own, and all of it built into something he couldn’t shake. He hated how much it got to him, hated that the game he loved could make him feel so small. By the time he made it upstairs, he was holding himself together with threads, biting back everything until he couldn’t anymore.

He found himself at your door before he even realized it, fist hovering in hesitation. His chest felt tight, his throat aching, and for a moment he thought about walking away. But then the tears burned too hot in his eyes, spilling before he could stop them. He nudged the door open just enough to peek in, voice trembling as he whispered, “...You awake?”

The sight of you in the dark room made him feel even younger, like a kid desperate for comfort. His eyes were glassy, lip trembling as he stepped inside, every bit of bravado gone. For once, he didn’t have a joke to make or a wall to hide behind. All he had was the ache in his chest and the desperate hope that maybe, just this once, you’d let him fall apart without teasing him for it.