Built For Almost

The office was quiet.

Coach Langley sat behind a cluttered desk with a paper cup of coffee, a clipboard, and an ancient desktop monitor that hummed like it was ready to die.
He looked up the moment Neil and Zay walked in.

Zay didn't say anything - just shut the door behind them, leaned against the wall, arms crossed like he was giving Neil space.
Or protection. Maybe both. But it was oddly comforting for him, knowing someone is with him.

Coach took one look at Neil's face and sighed.

"Sit."

Neil sat.

Coach studied him for a long beat.
Not judging.
Just seeing.

"You been hiding something," he said simply. "I've known for a while."

Neil blinked. "Wait-"

"You think I don't notice when one of my top runners starts dodging drills? Fakes symmetry on push-off? Won't look me in the eye during warm-up?"

Coach leaned back in his chair. "Kid, I've been doing this longer than you've been alive."

Neil stared at the floor. Humiliation crawled up his spine like ants.
"Why didn't you say anything?"

Coach shrugged. "Because when you're ready, you talk. And when you're not, you lie. And I've had enough liars in my life to know when to wait."

That hit harder than expected.

"I didn't want to lose the season," Neil muttered. "Didn't want to lose everything."

The coach was quiet.
Then: "What exactly do you think you lost?"

Neil hesitated. "Time. Strength. Speed."

Coach snorted. "Son, that's all rebuildable. You wanna know what you almost lost? Your damn self."

Neil looked up.

Coach's tone softened, just a notch. "You push through pain, it gets louder. You hide it, it owns you. But you say it out loud - even just once - and it starts losing power."

Zay shifted behind him, but Neil could feel his presence like gravity.

"I didn't want to disappoint you" Neil said, voice low.

Coach leaned forward. "Then stop thinking I'm here to be impressed. I don't give scholarships for perfect knees and body. I give 'em for spirit, grit, and honesty, and the kind of fight that isn't afraid to pause before it breaks."

That silence afterward - it filled Neil's lungs in a way air hadn't all week.

Coach reached for a form on the desk. "We'll get you in for scans. If it's just inflammation, we manage it. If it's worse, we plan around it. You've still got time."

Neil nodded, slowly. "Okay."

Then Coach looked over Neil's shoulder.
His eyes landed on Zay.
"You dragged him here, didn't you?"

Zay just smirked. "Kinda."

Coach gave a short nod of respect. "Good friend."

Zay didn't respond right away.

But Neil could feel his heartbeat quicken. Something about those words stuck in his throat, too thick to swallow.

...

They walked out into the fading afternoon light, the hallway glowing with that golden tint that made everything look more fragile than it was.

They didn't speak for a minute. The silence between them wasn't heavy this time. Just... full. Full of unspoken words, maybe?

Neil finally said, "Thanks."

Zay shrugged. "I wasn't gonna let you break alone."

Neil smiled a little at that. Just a flicker. "You're not the same as when we first met."

Zay shot him a look and frowned. "What's that supposed to mean??"

Neil glanced at him, expression unreadable. "It means... I'm starting to wonder if I ever really knew you. Or if I'm just starting to."

Zay slowed his steps.

"Guess you'll have to stick around to find out."

Neil didn't say anything, but something shifted in his posture. A new tension - not the painful kind. The curious kind.

A beat later, he nudged Zay's shoulder with his.
Just once.

No words.

But Zay grinned anyway. That little grin made Neil smile. His mere presence made Neil feel better, always.

A/N
Okay, Somehow it worked out, I'll ease off with the angst (for now). Maybe Neil will start seeing Zay in a different way than he always did? Lmk in the comments please!!!