After their long evening walk, Tim and Willy returned to the hotel penthouse, completely drained from the emotional turbulence of the day. They immediately changed into fresh, comfortable clothes mostly because Willy was a notorious cleanliness freak who flat-out refused to let outdoor clothes touch the crisp bedsheets.
While Willy was clearing his bag, Tim's phone lit up on the nightstand. He had just finished firing off a few dry, sarcastic replies to Ethan and Logan's tactical chat group, expecting them to be the ones blowing up his notifications. But when he glanced at the preview, his breath hitched. The message was from his mother.
Mom:I heard you're back across the border. When are you coming to see us at the estate? We have a great deal to discuss, Tim.
Tim stared at the screen, a familiar, suffocating coldness settling into his chest. He didn't want to reply. He didn't want to let her voice ruin the fragile, beautiful bubble he had built with Willy today. He hesitated, unlocking and locking the screen, typing out long, bitter paragraphs only to aggressively backspace through them. He wanted to ignore her completely, but a desperate, defensive urge to draw a line in the sand won over.
He finally sent a brutally short response:
Tim:I am not back. Never.
Exhaling a ragged breath, Tim looked over at Willy, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, happily scrolling through the videos they had taken at the swan park. The sheer innocence and warmth radiating from Willy acted like a magnetic pull. Moving across the mattress, Tim crawled over and wrapped his arms tightly around Willy's waist, burying his face directly into the crook of his neck.
Willy blinked in surprise, immediately putting his phone down. Sensing the sudden, heavy shift in the boy's energy, he gently patted the back of Tim's head, letting his fingers thread through his dark hair. "Hey... is everything okay?"
"Yeah," Tim's voice came out muffled, raw, and incredibly tired. "I just... I just need to recharge my battery for a second."
He looked genuinely exhausted, the sharp edge of his usual arrogant confidence completely wiped away. Willy didn't push him for answers; he knew that forcing Tim to talk right now would only drain him further. Instead, he pulled Tim closer, wrapping his arms securely around his broad shoulders and pressing a firm, protective kiss against his forehead.
Tim let out a long sigh, his eyes closing as he completely melted into Willy's touch. They stayed wrapped in that quiet embrace for several minutes, the steady rhythm of their breathing filling the silence.
Finally, Tim spoke up, his voice soft against Willy's chest. "What's the official schedule for tomorrow, Captain?"
Willy smiled into the dark. "We'll wake up early, have a proper breakfast downstairs, and then head straight to the arena for the championship check-in and warm-ups. If everything goes according to plan... we celebrate in the evening."
"I'm certain everything will go perfectly," Tim murmured, squeezing him tighter.
"You know, you always manage to say exactly what I need to hear," Willy admitted softly, a breathless laugh escaping him. "Sometimes it literally feels like you're reading my mind."
Tim pulled back just enough to look up at him, a knowing, heavy look in his dark eyes. "Of course I know what you're thinking, Willy. I'm your other half. But do you even realize how you're acting right now? You are actively behaving like my boyfriend. That's why I told you this morning that your words don't match your actions. I think you're just terrified to admit out loud what's already true."
Willy's smile faded, replaced by a sudden, intense vulnerability. He looked down at his own hands. "You're right... I am. Tim, I've never been in a relationship before. I've spent my whole life being the practical, reliable one. I'm terrified that if I finally let myself plunge into this, I'll end up ruining everything."
Tim reached up, firmly cupping Willy's jaw, forcing their gazes to lock. "There is absolutely nothing to worry about, Willy. You only need to do one single thing, trust me, and everything will be fine. I've never been in a relationship either, but I refuse to live my entire life paralyzed by fear. Just give me a real chance, and I promise you with everything I have, we will spend the rest of our lives together."
Willy stared into Tim's eyes, seeing the absolute, unwavering devotion burning within them. The tight walls around his heart finally cracked open, crumbling completely.
A soft, breathless smile broke across Willy's face. "Okay. I'll give you a chance, Tim. We can do this."
Tim's eyes widened in sheer, ecstatic shock. "Really? You're... you're not pulling my leg?"
"I'm serious," Willy chuckled, though he quickly raised a finger to Tim's chest as the boy practically began to vibrate with joy. "But before we make it official, I still have a few burning questions you promised to answer."
"Ask me literally anything!" Tim beamed, practically bouncing on the mattress, unable to contain his radiant happiness. Watching him look so unburdened, Willy couldn't help but let out a loud, genuine laugh.
"First question," Willy began, his tone turning curious. "Why on earth did you react so badly to staying at this hotel, even though you just admitted you have a great relationship with the entire staff?"
Tim's smile turned slightly soft and protective. "Because everyone here knows me inside and out. I knew the second we walked through those doors, they would start intensely staring at us, and I was worried it would make you feel uncomfortable and exposed on the night before your big match."
Willy blinked, touched by the realization. Tim had been entirely right the staring had made him uncomfortable, but Tim had been trying to shield him from it all along. "Okay, second question. When you disappeared across the border a few days ago under the excuse of visiting your parents... did you actually go see them?"
Tim hesitated, the light leaving his eyes for a split second. He clearly didn't want to plunge into that dark headspace, but he had given his word. "No," he said quietly, his jaw tightening. "I didn't go anywhere near them."
"Then... Why do you despise being back in this country so much? What happened to you here, Tim?"
Tim let out a heavy breath, staring at his lap. "Willy... that is an incredibly long, heavy story. I don't think I should uncover those ghosts today. I really don't want to spoil the mood on our first official night together. But... if you truly want to understand where I come from, after the tournament is over, I can take you to visit my grandparents' countryside estate."
Willy watched him closely, sensing the profound boundary, and decided to respect it. He smiled warmly, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere. "Deal. But only if I get to see embarrassing pictures of you from when you were a little kid."
Tim raised an eyebrow, a breathless laugh escaping him. "And what makes you so absolutely certain that my grandparents possess childhood photos of me?"
"Because they're your grandparents, dummy," Willy teased, flicking his nose. "Don't even think about trying to hide them from me."
Come with me to see them, and I promise I won't hide a single piece of myself from you, Tim thought silently, his chest aching with a profound sense of gratitude.
They completely lost track of time, wrapped up in their easy, flowing conversation until the room's ambient automated lights shifted to indicate twilight. It was officially dinner time. Tim stood up to change into a crisp, sleek ensemble, and Willy followed suit, dressing in a sharp casual outfit.
As they stepped out into the hallway, Willy turned to him. "So, where exactly are we going for dinner? Is there a restaurant inside the lobby?"
Tim smirked, pressing the up button on the elevator console rather than the down button. "I prepared a little surprise for you. The hotel staff was more than happy to pull a few strings for their favorite former employee."
Willy smiled, a wave of immense gratitude washing over him. In his entire life, no one had ever gone out of their way to plan surprises or take care of the details for him like this.
The elevator climbed smoothly, chiming softly as the doors slid open to reveal the exclusive, private rooftop dining terrace. The moment Willy stepped out onto the glass-enclosed floor, his breath was completely taken away. It looked like a scene pulled straight out of a magical, cinematic dreamscape. The entire perimeter was illuminated by thousands of twinkling fairy lights, the space beautifully decorated with massive, fragrant arrangements of colorful midnight flowers. In the center sat a single, elegantly set candlelit table, framing an absolutely panoramic, breathtaking view of the glowing city skyline below.
Willy turned around, his eyes wide as he scanned the empty, pristine terrace. "Wait... why are we the only ones up here? Where are the other guests?"
Tim walked up beside him, his hands tucked casually into his pockets. "I asked the kitchen and management staff for a massive favor, and they entirely cleared the reservation log for the evening. This entire space belongs exclusively to us tonight."
Willy shook his head, completely overwhelmed. "Tim... I honestly don't even know what to say. If I told you 'thank you' a million times over tonight, it still wouldn't be enough to match what you've done."
Tim stepped into his space, his dark eyes melting with pure devotion. "You don't need to say a single word, Willy. The only thing that matters to me in this world is that you're happy."
Unable to restrain himself any longer, Willy reached up, wrapping his arms around Tim's neck, and pulled him down into a deep, passionate kiss. Tim gasped softly against his lips before his hands instinctively locked around Willy's waist, pulling his frame flush against his own. Willy's fingers threaded deeply into the soft locks of Tim's hair, prolonging the embrace until they were both completely breathless.
When they finally broke apart, Tim rested his forehead against Willy's, his breathing heavy and erratic. He whispered softly, his voice trembling with an intensity that shook Willy to the core.
"I am so incredibly glad you gave me a real chance tonight, Willy. I mean it... I have absolutely no one left in this world except you. I love you."
Willy's heart pounded violently against his ribs, a profound wave of emotion overtaking him. "I love you too, Tim. To be completely honest... the very first moment I saw you walk into the university range, I was completely drawn to you. I liked you instantly... I just never had the courage to say it out loud."
The heavy gravity vanished from Tim's face, replaced instantly by his signature, incredibly arrogant smirk. "Oh, I know, Captain. Literally everyone falls head over heels in love with me at first sight. You are definitely not an exception to the rule."
Willy groaned, rolling his eyes as he lightly punched Tim's shoulder.
"Ouch! Okay, okay," Tim laughed, smoothly stepping behind Willy to pull out his chair for him. "Let's eat before this gourmet spread gets completely cold."
Tim walked around the candlelit table, sliding into his own seat directly across from him. As they began to eat, Tim noticed a slight shadow of focus return to Willy's eyes. "Are you still feeling nervous about the targets tomorrow, Willy?"
Willy sighed, setting his cutlery down. "Yeah. A lot of internationally ranked, legendary shooters are attending this bracket. Just thinking about stepping onto that firing line next to them makes my hands a little cold."
Tim reached across the table, his warm fingers firmly intertwining with Willy's. "Take a deep breath, Captain. When you step onto that platform tomorrow, completely block out the noise. Don't look at the crowd, don't look at the rank boards, only think about me."
Willy smiled softly, but a hidden layer of anxiety remained. Tim's constant reassurance was beautiful, but it also added a terrifying pressure. According to the tournament rules, if Willy became physically incapacitated or unable to compete, Tim as the designated alternate would have to step onto the line to replace him. Willy remembered the club qualifier matches vividly; Tim's hands had been shaking violently, his face pale, looking completely sick during the second round. If a local university match did that to his psychological state, a high-stakes international tournament would be catastrophic.
Willy squeezed Tim's hand. "Tim... you mentioned back at the campus meetings that you felt intensely unwell during the qualifiers. Why exactly did that happen?"
Tim's expression went a bit rigid. He pulled his hand back, staring down at his glass. "Because I don't sleep at night, Willy. And because of my chronic psychological condition, I'm prescribed heavy medications that have terrible physical side effects. It has a dozen severe contraindications, so I rarely ever take it unless things get unmanageable."
Willy's chest tightened with intense protectiveness. "Then don't take that garbage medicine anymore. I mean it, Tim. From now on, I'm going to be right by your side. You sleep completely peacefully whenever you're next to me, remember?"
Tim's eyes lit up, a wicked, triumphant grin breaking across his face. "Oh, wow! Is that a formal invitation for me to pack my bags and move into your apartment, Captain?"
Willy flushed, coughing slightly. "No! That's... you've just practically been living on my couch lately anyway, so I'm just stating facts."
"Right, whatever you say," Tim purred, thoroughly pleased. "But I think I'll officially manage to move my wardrobe into your bedroom very soon anyway."
Willy decided not to argue, knowing that once Tim set his sights on a goal, he always achieved it.
As the dinner progressed, Willy noticed that Tim hadn't touched a single drop of his beverage. Even at their previous celebrations, Tim had completely avoided alcohol. "Are you abstaining from drinking tonight because of your medication interaction?"
Tim looked down at his crystal glass, which was half-filled with an exquisite red wine. A sudden, deeply amused glint entered his eyes. "Honestly, Willy? When we're alone together like this, it is statistically safer for both of us to stay completely sober. Otherwise, with our track record, we are guaranteed to wake up legally married tomorrow morning. Have you completely forgotten how unhinged you behave when you have a drink in your system?"
Willy gasped, his face burning. "That is absolute slander! I don't even drink that much, I have perfect control over my"
"Oh, really?" Tim challenged, leaning across the candlelit table. "Then let's put it to a test tomorrow night. Give me your exact ring finger size right now, and I'll have the custom platinum bands cast and delivered by tomorrow afternoon."
Willy's competitive streak flared, refusing to back down from the tease. "Fine. Let's have an official drinking competition tomorrow night after the bracket ends. As always, you are entirely overconfident, Tim."
"Perfect. I am going to have an absolutely spectacular time tomorrow," Tim gloated, clapping his hands. "The wedding is officially locked in, so now I can start planning our international honeymoon destination. Where would you prefer us to fly, husband?"
Willy rolled his eyes, a fond smile breaking through his mock annoyance. "Let's actually get through a legal marriage ceremony first, and then I'll think about a destination. You're going to have to wait an entire century for that, anyway."
"I had no idea a century could fly by this quickly," Tim murmured, standing up from his chair and walking over to Willy's side. "It's honestly a massive shame that I didn't get the chance to call you my boyfriend very many times, but don't worry I'll be calling you my husband soon enough."
"We'll see about that," Willy muttered, his heart flipping. He honestly couldn't comprehend why Tim was so completely fixated on the concept of marriage, but he didn't mind the warmth it brought.
Tim leaned down, his eyes turning dark and intensely focused as he locked gazes with him. "Shall we head back down to our suite now, Willy? I believe it's officially time for me to collect my reward."
Willy swallowed hard, nodding silently. They excused themselves from the terrace and returned to the quiet intimacy of their executive room.
The moment the door locked, Tim turned around, crossing his arms with a demanding pout. "For my behavior reward tonight, I expect exactly ten individual kisses directly on the lips, one firm kiss on the forehead, and one gentle kiss on the top of my head."
Willy raised an eyebrow, a fond smirk on his face. "Are you absolutely certain about that specific order?"
"You gave me your word of honor, Captain. You can't break a promise to your official boyfriend on night one."
He was entirely right. Willy wasn't a man to break his word. Stepping into Tim's space, he carefully, deliberately fulfilled the debt, pressing each individual kiss against Tim's lips, forehead, and hair until the boy was smiling widely, his cheeks flushed with pure happiness.
"Now," Tim whispered, reaching out to grasp Willy's hand tightly. "Hold my hand like this and let's go to sleep."
Willy checked the digital clock on the wall. "But Tim, it's still incredibly early in the evening. The sun barely set."
"Just lie down next to me," Tim pleaded, his dark eyes turning soft, wide, and incredibly vulnerable, a kicked-puppy look that he knew with absolute certainty Willy could never resist. "You can watch whatever you want on your phone, I don't mind. You know I physically cannot sleep unless you are right here beside me."
Willy let out a soft sigh, entirely defenseless against the look. "Fine. But only if you change into proper pajamas first."
Tim practically bolted into the bathroom, returning a minute later in comfortable loungewear. By then, Willy was already propped up against the plush pillows, scrolling through his phone. Tim quickly climbed under the heavy duvet, immediately sliding his large hand across the sheets until his palm found Willy's. Willy instinctively closed his fingers around Tim's, locking them tightly together.
Willy looked down at their joined hands. "Why do you always insist on sleeping with a grip this tight, Tim?"
Tim's voice dropped into a quiet, hollow whisper as he stared up at the ceiling. "Because... because if I'm holding onto you like this, my brain knows for a fact that there is someone real in the room. It reminds me that I am finally not alone in the dark."
Willy's heart ached with a sudden, profound wave of worry. What on earth happened to you in your past to make you this terrified of being alone? He wanted to squeeze the answers out of him, but he refrained, simply tightening his grip around Tim's hand to offer maximum comfort.
Sensing Willy's heavy mood, Tim turned his head on the pillow, a soft, reassuring smile touching his lips. "Don't look so worried, Willy. I am actively trying to bury my past. Right now, the only thing I care about is being right here with you and being genuinely happy. Nothing else matters."
Willy looked down at him, his gaze incredibly tender. "The second you are ready to talk about it, Tim... just tell me. I promise I will help you forget every single bad memory from your past."
"I know you will," Tim whispered, his eyes fluttering shut as a look of pure, unadulterated peace washed over his face. "That's exactly why I'm not worried anymore. It's almost all over anyway... I'll tell you everything very soon."
Within minutes, Tim's breathing evened out, slipping into a deep, peaceful slumber. Willy couldn't take his eyes off him, completely captivated by how beautiful and calm he looked when his defenses were entirely dropped.
Suddenly, a sharp, muffled vibration cut through the quiet room. It was Tim's phone buzzing against the nightstand.
Tim stirred slightly, his voice thick with sleep, completely blind to the world. "Willy... can you check that for me? I'm too lazy to open my eyes..."
Willy reached over, scooping the device off the table. "What's your unlock PIN?"
"0512," Tim mumbled against the pillow.
Willy froze, his thumb hovering over the screen as the numbers clicked in his brain. December 5th. My birthday. He turned his head, staring at the sleeping boy in absolute disbelief. "Wait... did you seriously set my exact date of birth as your master security PIN? Aren't you even a little bit afraid that I'll look through your personal data?"
Tim let out a soft, sleepy chuckle, not even opening his eyes. "That's the entire reason I set it, dummy. Look through it whenever you want. I have absolutely zero secrets from you. I don't even read half the messages that come in anyway, I just instantly delete them. You can reply to them for me if you want..."
Willy shook his head, a fond smile on his face as he punched in the numbers 0-5-1-2. The home screen unlocked instantly, opening directly to a new message preview from a contact saved under the name: "Queen"
Queen:My beautiful sunshine, did you honestly not miss me at all? When are you finally coming back to the estate? At least have the decency to call me sometimes!
Willy's blood turned to absolute ice. The fond smile vanished from his face, replaced instantly by a blinding, violent surge of raw, possessive jealousy. Queen? Sunshine? "Who exactly is this message from, Tim?" Willy asked, his voice dropping into a dangerously sharp, icy register.
Tim groaned softly, shifting on the pillow. "Mmm? Who is it from?"
"It's from your Queen," Willy spat out, his vision practically tunneling with pure rage. "She says she misses her sunshine immensely and is desperately waiting for your return."
Without a shred of his usual composure, Willy aggressively threw the heavy smartphone directly at Tim's torso. The device landed squarely against Tim's stomach with a sharp thud.
"Ouch!" Tim cried out, his eyes flying open as he clutched his stomach in pain, completely shocked by the assault. He scrambled across the sheets, quickly snatching up the phone and turning on the screen.
"Wait... did my Queen actually text me?!" Tim gasped, his eyes widening as a look of genuine excitement flushed his face. He instantly began typing a rapid response. "Hold on, I need to reply to her right this second!"
Willy's jaw clenched so hard his teeth ached. He bolted out of the bed, his chest heaving as a furious, suffocating wave of anger completely consumed him.