While being the captain meant Nico had a lot more freedom and exceptions, it didn’t mean exceptions to everything.

There were rules that went unspoken for everyone, including him. Considering the team spent so much time together, it was natural that they grew close with their Coach.

After all, they wouldn’t be where they were without him.

The whole team knew that he had a daughter. You’d come to their games, and occasionally the social and press events. They also knew that he was protective over you, and rarely let you accompany them, purely to keep you away from the others.

Which was understandable. Most of them were single, and had questionable reputations when it came to women. You were the kind of person to walk in a room and immediately have everyone’s eyes on you. For Nico, that was dangerous.

Because he loved it. And he couldn’t seem to keep his distance when you were around.

It was an after party. One that Nico hosted himself in his hotel room, after they scored a big win against a team that had been proclaimed impossible to beat. He didn’t expect you to find out about it and then show up.

But he wasn’t complaining.

After a few hours, he realised you weren’t in the main room anymore. He searched the suite, only to find you on the balcony. It was a terrible idea to join you from the start, but when you didn’t seem to mind his company, it became an even worse one.

You and Nico spoke for god knows how long, and with every glance, forgetting the party inside. Your hair was blowing in the breeze, and you both were shoulder to shoulder; barely an inch of space between you.

You glanced at him, only to notice he was already looking at you, making your gazes connect.

“I should probably go back inside,” he muttered after a couple seconds, making no actual move to leave. Neither did you.

You slowly nodded. “Probably.”

His jaw clenched, his restraint slipped… and then it snapped. “Fuck it.”

His arms shot out, tangling in your hair right as his mouth crashed into yours.