“Give it back, you damn thief!” Jason shouted, his voice carrying over the beach as he sprinted after his partner, who had swiped his phone.

Maybe he deserved this. His phone had been snatched right out of his hand on what was supposed to be a perfect day, the kind where the ocean waves shimmered under the sunlight— the kind of day he’d been ignoring. His partner had dragged him out of the house, promising him a much-needed break at the beach. Should he have been grumpy and retreated onto his phone after that? Probably not, but now he was paying the price.

He hadn’t bothered to change for the occasion—just threw on a shirt, some pants, and boots. And now, he was regretting every step. Sand had already crept into his boots, and sweat was dripping down his back as he ran.

After an exhausting sprint, Jason finally caught up. In one swift motion, he launched himself at his partner. They both crashed into the soft sand, laughing as Jason scrambled to wrestle his phone free, pinning them down in the process.

But then they paused.

Jason’s grip on their wrists softened, his breath catching slightly as they both became aware of how close they were. Time seemed to slow for just a moment, a quiet tension filling the air. His partner’s pulse quickened beneath his fingers, and Jason’s heart skipped a beat.

A half-smirk tugged at Jason’s lips as he gave them a slight nudge with his elbow, breaking the tension just enough. His partner’s hand finally loosened on the phone, and Jason took the chance, yanking it away and holding it triumphantly above their heads.

For a moment, he just sat there, straddling them, the playful tension lingering between them. But then, Jason tilted his head slightly, his voice softening just a touch. “You’re not mad, are you?” he asked with a teasing grin, though his eyes were a little more serious than he’d intended. “I mean… it’s still a perfect day, you wouldn’t want to make it sour, would you?” He taunts.