The morning sun broke through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating a scene of absolute chaos. The pristine luxury of the hotel suite had been thoroughly dismantled overnight: clothes were scattered across the carpet, jackets draped over chairs, and a trail of items led directly to the king-sized bed. In the center of it all, Tim and Willy lay completely tangled in the heavy blanket, sleeping with a rare, undisturbed peace.
Tim was the first to blink his eyes open. The moment he tried to shift, a sharp, throbbing ache flared in his right arm. Willy was using it as a pillow, his head heavy and warm against his shoulder. But despite the discomfort, Tim froze. He lay completely motionless, barely daring to breathe, terrified that the slightest twitch would shatter the serene expression on Willy's face. He simply couldn't take his eyes off him. Leaning down with infinite care, Tim pressed a soft, feather-light kiss against Willy's forehead. Willy merely mumbled something, turning deeper into the pillow, completely dead to the world.
Realizing his stomach was aggressively rumbling, Tim decided to order a morning breakfast spread. He scanned the room, but his phone was nowhere to be found. In this level of mess, hunting for a device without tearing the room apart was almost impossible. He glanced over the edge of the bed. Willy's phone had vanished entirely into the sheets as well. With no other choice, Tim sighed softly and resigned himself to waiting for his partner to wake up.
Within ten minutes, the sheer boredom became entirely unmanageable. Tim began absentmindedly twirling a lock of Willy's hair between his fingers, then lightly tapped his cheek. When the boy still refused to wake up, Tim smirked, leaning down to press a firm, teasing kiss directly onto his lips.
"My dear husband," Tim whispered, his voice deep with morning raspy warmth. "Wake up."
Willy's long eyelashes finally fluttered, his eyelids parting heavily as he stared up at the ceiling in complete confusion. "What... what is going on?" he mumbled, still half-asleep.
"I'm incredibly bored," Tim complained softly, refusing to move his arm.
Willy yawned, stretching his limbs, and it was only then that he realized he was intimately wrapped around Tim's upper body. He sat bolt upright in an instant, the heavy duvet falling to his waist as his face flushed.
Tim let out a dramatic sigh, flexing his numb fingers. "Trust me, my love, I wouldn't have broken your beautiful peace, but I physically cannot find my phone anywhere in this disaster zone."
Willy rubbed his eyes, trying to clear the morning fog. "Check your pants pocket from last night. It's always there."
Tim immediately swung his legs out of bed, eagerly looking on the floor to track down his trousers.
Exhausted, Willy prepared to collapse back against the pillows to get another hour of sleep, but Tim's sudden, sharp shout cut through the room.
"Stop right there, Willy! Do not move!"
Willy froze, his heart catching in his throat. "What? What happened now? Is something wrong?"
Tim rapidly bolted back across the room, diving onto the edge of the mattress with an expression of intense focus. "Give me your hand. Right now. Don't ask any questions."
Willy blinked, thoroughly confused, but instinctively extended his hand toward him anyway. Tim immediately caught Willy's fingers on his own, pulling out his freshly recovered phone, and snapped a clear close-up photo of their joined hands.
Willy's eyes naturally traced down to the image on the screen, and then his breath caught completely. Sitting snugly around the base of his ring finger was a beautiful, masterfully crafted platinum band. He slowly raised his hand, staring at the polished metal reflecting the morning light.
Tim carefully adjusted the phone, his voice dropping into a rare, strangely soft tone. "I just... I wanted to keep a permanent picture of this before you inevitably take the ring off."
Willy looked up, his brow furrowing. "Why on earth would I take it off, Tim?"
Tim's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of genuine vulnerability crossing his features. "Because... honestly? I still can't fully believe that this is real. I'm going to order breakfast downstairs, and then you and I need to have a serious talk about everything."
Tim stared at the photo on his screen with an intensely happy, reverent expression before calling room service. While they waited for the food to arrive, Tim quickly pulled on a fresh hoodie and sweatpants. Willy remained sitting in the center of the bed. Every instinct screamed at him to lay back down, but he knew Tim was right; they had crossed a massive, irreversible line last night, and talking was critical. He slowly stood up, slipping into a comfortable pair of clothes just as a knock echoed at the door.
The hot breakfast was rolled into the suite, and Willy immediately grabbed the large mug of black coffee, downing half of it to wake his brain up completely.
Setting the cup down, Willy locked eyes with the boy across the table. "Alright. We can talk now, Tim."
Tim set his own fork down, leaning forward, his gaze incredibly intense. "Willy... do you actually remember everything that happened last night? Every single detail?"
Willy took a slow breath, his expression completely steady. "Yes. Of course I do."
Yesterday evening
The crystal glasses clinked softly as Willy drained the remainder of his second glass of wine.
Tim watched him closely, a wicked, testing smirk playing on his lips. "Alright, sweetheart. Let's check to see if you are already drunk."
Willy tilted his chin up, his eyes bright with competitive fire. "And how exactly do you plan to check that, Tim?"
Tim leaned across the table, his dark eyes fixed entirely onto Willy's lips. "Let's get married. Right now."
Willy didn't even blink. He stared directly into Tim's eyes, his expression completely level. "Okay. Do you want to go right this second?"
The smirk instantly vanished from Tim's face. He reached out, gently pulling the glass away from Willy's fingers. "Alright, you are officially completely wasted. No more drinking for you tonight."
An expression of profound, burning annoyance crossed Willy's features. He reached across the table, firmly gripping Tim's wrist, forcing the boy to look at him. "Tim, look at my face. I am not joking with you. I am completely, entirely serious."
Tim froze, a visible shock rippling through his entire frame. For the first time since they had met, Tim's brain completely stalled, his mouth parting slightly in sheer disbelief. "Seriously? Willy... are you absolutely sure about what you're saying right now? You are not just saying this because you are drunk, are you? If we do this... you might regret it tomorrow morning."
Willy's grip on his wrist tightened, his voice dropping into a deep, unyielding tone. "I already told you once, Tim. I do not play games when it comes to things like this. I am not kidding."
A pure wave of absolute joy flushed through Tim's face. He threw his chair back, lunging around the table to wrap his arms tightly around Willy's shoulders, lifting him slightly off the seat. "Are you one hundred percent sure, Willy? Don't play with me!"
Willy groaned, thoroughly annoyed that the boy was forcing him to repeat himself for a third time. "Yes! Yes, I am sure! How many times do I have to tell you?"
"Alright then," Tim breathed, his eyes wild with excitement as he pulled back. "Let's go right now."
Willy blinked, adjusting his collar. "Wait... where exactly are we going at this hour?"
"The rings are already ready and sitting in the manager's safe downstairs," Tim grinned, pulling a set of legal folders from his inner jacket pocket. "I told you yesterday, Willy I never joke about our future. I've already arranged everything with a local official who handles private international registrations. I know exactly where we can get married tonight."
Willy's jaw dropped, a profound wave of confusion hitting him. "Wait... did you seriously prepare everything before we even came here?"
"Yes," Tim admitted, his tone suddenly turning soft, quiet, and incredibly grounded. "Even before we left. I'll explain everything to you clearly, Willy. In our country, it is legally impossible for us to get married. But here, everything is completely different. That's why I prepared everything in advance. To be completely honest... I never actually allowed myself to believe you would agree tonight. I just wanted to have the option ready, just in case. If... if hearing all this makes you want to change your mind, it's completely okay. I won't force you."
Willy stared at the documents, then looked up at the fierce, trembling hope in the boy's eyes. A deep sense of clarity washed over him. "Don't worry about that, Tim. I'm not changing my decision."
Present day
Willy took another slow sip of his black coffee, his gaze completely steady. "I remember every single word of that conversation, Tim."
Tim stared down at his breakfast plate, his usual arrogant posture replaced by a heavy, uncharacteristic quietness. "And... you don't regret it? Willy, look at me. I always get what I want, but that doesn't mean I won't consider your wishes. If you woke up this morning and realized you aren't ready for this... I understand completely."
Willy watched him closely, a profound wave of understanding washing over his chest. He knew why Tim was thinking that way. Tim was terrified that Willy had only agreed due to the emotions of last night or the wine.
Tim rubbed the back of his neck, his voice quiet. "You have two choices, Willy. We can quietly get divorced... or we can actually try living together. I will respect any decision you make."
Willy didn't hesitate. Even though there were still many things he didn't know about Tim, Willy knew one thing with absolute certainty: he trusted this boy with his entire life. Tim had broken through every single one of his walls, and he knew Tim was the only one who could make him truly happy.
"I don't regret a single thing, Tim," Willy said firmly, reaching across the small table to rest his palm over Tim's hand. "We love each other. I think we should try to live together and build our lives."
Tim's eyes lit up with a brilliant, breathless relief, but then his expression shifted into something deeply focused. "That's incredible... but Willy, I'm going to need your final answer before the summer."
Willy raised an eyebrow, his mind instantly picking up on the strange timeline. Why specifically before summer? Is it because of the competition? "Until summer? What happens in summer, Tim?"
Tim stared at his coffee cup, his jaw tightening slightly. "I am only at your university for a year because of the competition. I haven't planned what happens next yet... so it all depends on your answer."
Willy's chest tightened, a sudden wave of worry hitting him. "Wait... were you planning on leaving after the competition?"
"That was my original plan," Tim whispered, looking up to lock eyes with him. "But that was before I met you, my dear. You completely changed everything."
He changed his whole life plan because of me, Willy thought, a profound, aching warmth blooming in his chest. He cleared his throat, trying to mask his emotions. "Why do you love me so much, Tim?"
Tim burst into a loud, delighted laugh, the heavy tension completely evaporating from the room. "Oh, wow! What a strange question to ask, considering the fact that we are already married, Mr. William."
Willy rolled his eyes, a fond smile breaking through. "Well, you didn't exactly give me time to ask those questions before."
Tim's laughter softened, his eyes turning incredibly warm as he looked across at him. "I know. But from the very first day I saw you, Willy, I noticed how deeply you care about others. Even when we first met you didn't know anything about me, but you still wanted to help me. And I remember exactly what you told me at the club. You notice every detail. You are honest; you say exactly what you think, while everyone else is afraid to tell the truth. Our meeting wasn't an accident, Willy. It was absolute fate. I originally came to take your place... and now you're my husband."
Willy smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Who would have thought that? But are you still sure you're going to take my place?"
"Absolutely," Tim grinned arrogantly, his eyes flashing with confidence. "So what if you're my husband? I am not going to give up now. I won't give you first place no matter what. Besides, you've already taken my heart, my first kiss, and my"
Willy's face turned an aggressive shade of red. He lunged across the table, forcefully putting his hand over Tim's mouth to cut him off. "Stop talking right this second!"
Tim simply blinked, his eyes dancing with amusement as he continued to speak muffled words against Willy's palm.
"We are staying exactly like this until you promise to stop talking," Willy commanded.
Finally, Tim fell silent, nodding against his hand. Willy slowly removed his palm, letting out a heavy sigh of relief as Tim took a deep breath.
"We are completely alone in the room, sweetheart," Tim pouted playfully. "Why can't I say things like that?"
"Because I know you only say it because you want to tease me," Willy countered, pointing his fork at him.
"Okay, okay," Tim chuckled, leaning back. "What do you think if we stay here until Friday?"
Willy paused, calculating the schedule. Now that they had won, they were free from university training for the rest of the week. It was the perfect time to rest. "Okay, but what are your plans?"
Tim's eyes turned warm. "Today we can relax and do nothing all day. I'll take you home with me tomorrow."
Willy's fork stopped. "With your parents?"
"Of course not," Tim's voice went instantly cold, a hard wall slamming down over his expression. "I live alone. I don't want to see them. Let's go to grandma and grandpa's the day after tomorrow."
Willy studied his face, sensing the dark feelings beneath the surface, and gave a reassuring nod. "Sure, but I don't want to tell anyone about us yet. Keep it a secret until we make a final decision."
Tim smiled softly, his gaze melting with trust. "Okay, I promise. And I always keep my promises. Can I at least tell them we're together?"
"Yes, that's fine," Willy allowed, a soft blush returning to his cheeks. "By the way, we'll have to take the rings off when we're around them."
Tim's expression went instantly rigid. "Absolutely impossible. I am never taking this ring off my finger, Willy. You can take yours off if you need to... but mine stays exactly where it is."
Willy stared at him, watching the boy happily looking at the ring with an expression of pure pride. A soft smile touched Willy's lips. He knew Tim was telling the absolute truth.
They didn't leave the hotel for the rest of the day. They swam, played games, and watched a movie together in the evening.
As the movie ended, Tim rested his head in Willy's lap. "I've already told the hotel staff that we're leaving tomorrow. I called, and they'll have the house ready for us. I haven't been there in a while and it needs some tidying up. Everything is ready for us to return on Friday."
Willy looked down at him, his fingers naturally moving through Tim's hair. "When I'm with you, I can think about nothing. You take care of everything."
Willy leaned down, pressing a soft kiss against Tim's lips.
Tim smiled against his mouth, his arms locking around Willy's waist. "Because I am a good husband."
Willy raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Did you mean to say I'm a bad husband?"
"No, you are the best husband," Tim whispered, his expression turning profoundly earnest. "You make me the happiest man alive, Willy. Because of you, I can sleep peacefully at night and I no longer have nightmares."
Willy's heart swelled. "I love you, Tim."
"I love you too, my dear husband."
Willy cleared his throat, a light blush dusting his cheeks. "Don't get used to it, otherwise you'll call me that even when we're with others."
Tim winked. "Don't worry, I've already thought of what to call you."
Willy felt a sudden wave of worry. "What?"
"Mr. William," Tim said proudly.
Willy stared at him. "Why Mr. William? That sounds ridiculous."
"Because you're already married, and the name Willy doesn't suit you anymore," Tim explained with complete seriousness.
Willy let out a loud groan, shaking his head. "I am not going to argue with you, Mr. Tim... No, I can't. I don't like it when I call you Mr. Tim. It makes me think you're older than me."
Tim burst into a delighted chuckle. "Come on, you are only a year older than me anyway."
Willy paused, his fingers freezing in Tim's hair. He stared down at him in absolute shock. "What? You're a year younger?"
Tim raised an eyebrow, completely amused. "Don't you know how old your husband is? How old did you think I was?"
"Eighteen or nineteen," Willy muttered. "Because you're a freshman."
"Seriously?" Tim laughed, sitting up. "Do I look like I'm eighteen?"
"Yes! Do you think there is a big difference between an eighteen-year-old and a twenty-year-old?"
Tim smirked, leaning into his space. "Well, Ethan looks like he's eighteen. You look like you're twenty-one."
"That's bullshit," Willy said, his face burning. "Because you know our age."
"Let's stop arguing about this," Tim laughed, pulling Willy down against his chest, wrapping his arms around him tightly.
"Okay, as you say," Willy muttered, burying his face into Tim's shoulder.
As he listened to the steady rhythm of Tim's heartbeat, Willy's mind drifted. What else didn't he know about Tim? So many things, and more important than his age.