Built For Almost

It was the first morning back at the track.

There was something about returning to routine that should've grounded Neil, but everything still felt... shifted. Like reality was tilting sideways and trying to play it off as normal.

Zay stood a few meters away, yawning into his fist while rolling out his shoulders. His hoodie sleeves were shoved up to his elbows, and his curls were still messy from sleep, like he hadn't bothered taming them before practice.

Neil's chest ached a little. He didn't know if it was because of last night-or because Zay had let him stay in his arms like that, whole and fragile at the same time.

Zay looked over and caught his eye.

Didn't smile. Didn't nod.

Just... looked.

And Neil felt the same thing he had the night before: like Zay could see through every layer he tried to keep on.

"You're staring again," Tasha said behind him, smirking. "Bold of you."

Neil tore his gaze away. "Shut up."

"You've been glued to his side for days. Don't think we haven't noticed."

"I've always been around him."

"Yeah, but now it's giving something else," she teased. "Like, you steal his hoodies and look at him like he hung the moon kind of something else."

Neil didn't reply. Mostly because she wasn't wrong.

Coach Langley clapped his hands, pulling everyone into the middle of the track for the morning announcements.

"Back to business, people," he barked, but he didn't sound pissed. Just focused, like always. "Today, we're switching it up. Partner drills. I want precision, trust, and coordination. Pair off-"

Zay was already turning toward Neil. But before either of them could move-

"Neil," Coach snapped, already holding a clipboard. "You're with Callum."

Zay's whole body stilled.

Neil blinked. "Uh-okay?"

Zay's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. The kind of squint that wasn't angry but was watching. Tracking.

Neil hesitated. Glanced at him. Then moved toward Callum with reluctant feet.

Callum, of course, grinned like he'd just won the damn lottery. "Don't worry," he said casually, clapping Neil's shoulder. "I'll take it easy on you, sweetheart."

Zay's knuckles cracked.

Subtle.

But Tasha saw it. Shot him a sidelong glance like, 'You okay there, big guy?'

He didn't respond. Just rolled his shoulders again and tried to breathe through the irrational flare in his chest.

The training wasn't that hard. But it felt longer than usual.

Every time Zay looked up, Neil was laughing at something Callum said. Not big laughs. Not real ones. But enough to make Zay's jaw twitch.

When it was finally over, Neil jogged over toward Zay-hoodie sleeves back on, hair damp with sweat, breathing heavy.

"Hey," he said, a little too casually. "You okay?"

Zay didn't answer right away. Just looked him over. "You let him touch you like that again and I'll break his hand."