The gym at Gravecrest Academy was overflowing with noise. Every seat in the stands was taken, and students who couldn't find space to sit stood shoulder to shoulder along the walls. They waved banners higher as their sneakers stomped on the bleachers, and voices crashed together into a cheers.
It wasn't just another game. This was the game,the one everyone had been waiting for. And the biggest game of the semester.
On the court, Eryx Draven, better known as Flame, was already on fire. His sneakers squeaked against the polished wood as he darted past two defenders, the ball dribbling in rhythm with his pounding heartbeat. His red hair glimmered under the bright lights as he jumped and slammed the ball into the hoop with a heavy thunk.
The gym exploded.
"Flame! Flame! Flame!"
"Go, Eryx!"
Girls screamed. Boys whistled. Even teachers leaned forward in their seats. Eryx landed with a cocky grin, breathing heavingly, sweat glistening along his jaw. He tossed the ball to a teammate with casual ease.
Across the court, Theodore Argentis known by everyone as Frost, stood like the calm to Eryx's storm. His white hair framed sharp green eyes that missed nothing. Where Eryx burned hot and wild, Frost was ice, steady, controlled, and impossible to shake.
When the ball came his way, Frost didn't rush. He simply moved quiely but fast. In a blink, the ball was stolen from Eryx's teammate. In another, he slipped through defenders and made a smooth, clean pass. His teammate jumped and slammed the ball into the hoop.
"Frost! Frost! Frost!"
"Let's go, Theo!"
The cheers for him were different. Not as loud as Eryx's because Eryx is ladies man and even the men want him because he's not as cold as Frost. His calm presence made people lean closer, drawn to the quiet danger in his movements.
Eryx wiped sweat from his brow and scowled. "Not bad, Frost. Not bad at all."
Then he was off again, charging down the court with reckless fire. His every step was fast, aggressive, built to dominate. He juked left, spun right, then jumped and slam the ball into the hoop.
The stands erupted.
"Flame! Flame! Flame!"
"Get him, Flame!"
But Frost didn't flinch. The ball was passed back to him. He moved smoothly, weaving through defenders with almost no effort. And he got another point.
"Frost! Frost! Frost!"
The back-and-forth was relentless. Flame was chaos, fast, fiery, unpredictable. Frost was control, measured, sharp, and cold.
Minutes stretched like hours. Sweat poured down faces. Shoes screeched across the court. Players gasped for breath, but Flame and Frost refused to slow. They locked eyes often, every glance daring the other to back down. But neither of them did.
By the final moments, the scoreboard glared a tie.
Eryx's chest heaved, lungs burning, but his grin never faded. The ball was in his hands as he muttered. "This is mine."
He feinted left. He spun right. He leapt high, aiming for the winning shot, but Frost was there. Perfectly timed. The block was clean, sharp, final.
The ball bounced away, scooped by Frost's teammate, then returned to Frost in a lightning pass. He drove forward, slipped past the last defender, and leapt for a layup. The ball slid through the net just as the buzzer rang.
Game over.
The gym shook with noise.
Half the crowd cheered.
"Frost! Frost! Frost!"
"That was insane!"
The other half groaned in disbelief
"Really!"
"Flame almost had it!"
On the court, Eryx bent forward, his hands on his knees as sweat drip from his face onto the polished floor. His scowl was sharp, his breathing ragged.
Frost walked over casually, brushing his white hair out of his eyes as he licked his lips.
He clapped Eryx lightly on the shoulder. "Good game," he said with a teasing smile.
Eryx snapped his head up. "Don't touch me, Frost. I'm serious."
But Frost only chuckled. Instead of stepping back, he hopped onto Eryx's back, arms looping casually around his shoulders.
The crowd gasped, then burst into laughter and cheers.
"Hey! Get off me, damn it!" Eryx shouted, trying to shake him off, his red hair sticking to his sweaty forehead.
"Relax, Flame," Frost teased, refusing to let go. "You lost fair and square."
The gym was roaring, voices echoing off the walls, some chanting Frost's name, others laughing at Flame's frustration.
Eryx finally shoved him off, cursing under his breath, face flushed with both anger and exhaustion. But at the corner of his mouth, a reluctant smirk tugged upward.
Frost straightened, brushing off his jersey, calm as ever. "Next time, try harder," he said smoothly, before strolling back to the center of the court.
The whispers started immediately, running like wildfire through the stands.
"Did you see that block?!"
"Flame almost had him… but Frost is scary."
"Those two are on another level."
~~~
Eryx walked into the locker room, sweat still dripping from his body from the game. He peeled off his sports top, letting it fall to the floor, revealing the hard lines of his chest and abs. The room seemed to shift, charged, as if the air itself noticed him.
"Shit," Leo cussed from across the room, his eyes glued to Eryx, but he didn't say it loud.
One of his friends smacked his head, eyes wide, while others twisted their faces in horror. "Are you mad? Do you want to get us killed? What if he heard you?" one of them hissed, voice tighting with fear.
"I can handle tough guys," Leo muttered, eyes still fixed on Eryx. "And I love his energy on the field. Do you know how good it's going to feel if he uses the same energy on my di*k" He trailed off, groaning as someone stepped in front of him, blocking his view.
Across the room, Adrianna's hand slid over Eryx's chest, tracing from his shoulders down to his stomach, fingers teasing lightly along the curve of his torso.
Eryx's smirk curved into a dangerous grin. "Careful," he said, low and teasing. "You know that's dangerous. You might regret it."
Adrianna leaned in, unafraid, eyes sparkling with mischief. "And what if I like danger?" she whispered, her boldness daring him.
He chuckled, dark and amused, letting his fingers brush hers lightly as he turned to face her. "Oh, I can tell you do. You're getting bolder every day."
Her lips curled into a teasing smile. "Because I'm not scared of you," she said, stepping closer, brushing her nose lightly against his.
Eryx's dark gaze followed her every move, his grin widening. The tension between them thickened, almost suffocating. He could feel the pull, the boldness that almost matched his own.
"You're standing there all stiff… not even going to fight back?" she teased, voice low, playful.
"I could fight," he murmured, stepping closer, one hand grazing her waist, eyes dark, "but why would I, when watching you like this is so much better?"
Her eyebrow rose, daring him. "Oh, really? You think you can handle me?"
"Handle you?" he whispered, leaning just close enough that she could feel his warmth, his presence like fire. "Darling… I'm not here to handle. I'm here to enjoy, and right now? You're giving me everything I want without even realizing it."
She laughed, bold and unflinching. "Careful… you talk a lot for someone who thinks he's in charge."
"Talk a lot?" he smirked, confident, fingers lingering lightly on her side. "Maybe. But every word is true. You're bold, beautiful, and utterly intoxicating. Watching you think you're in control… that's the best part."
Her breath caught. Her chest rose and fell quickly as he leaned in, voice low, teasing, dangerous. "W-what are you doing?" she whispered.
"Just showing you what it feels like when someone actually knows what they're doing," he replied, whispering near her ear. "I don't love you, I don't care about love. But I can make you forget everything else, even for a second. And right now, that's exactly what I'm doing."
"You're… too good at this." she blushed hard.
"Not too good," he said, stepping back slightly, letting the tension linger, his grin dark and confident. "Just honest. Boldness is fun, but I will always win in the end."
Adrianna leaned against the lockers, smirking as Eryx pulled on his shirt. "Where are you going?" she asked, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.
Eryx flashed her that teasing, dangerous grin. "Somewhere you'll have to find out," he replied smoothly, his voice low and flirty.
She laughed lightly, unfazed by his charm. "I don't mind," she said, playful and bold.
Eryx winked at her, turning to leave, leaving a lingering heat in the air that made the room feel charged.
Across the room, Leo leaned against Levi, still caught up from the scene they just watched. Levi, however, pushed him away, eyes narrowing. "Do you want to die?" he asked sharply. "Don't be so dramatic. That scene wasn't even that hot to me."
"Not hot? Are you serious? Such an impotent." Leo teased, his voice full of mischief.
Levi's eyes narrowed. Without warning, he smacked Leo on the head, then pointed at his own bulge that is a little bigger than usual. "Are you blind?" he snapped, voice sharp, clearly frustrated.
Leo blinked, then grinned wickedly. "Damn boy, you're huge! I could give you a nice release if you ever needed one," he said playfully, laughing loud enough for everyone to hear.
The other guys burst into laughter, egging the teasing on.
Levi's face flushed red. He shoved Leo hard on the chest, pulling on his shirt. "Fuck off," he barked, voice tight with embarrassment.
Leo laughed, throwing a hand onto Levi's shoulder. "Come on, don't be so dramatic," he said, still teasing.
Levi shoved him again, eyes cold, jaw tight. "I said stay away from me," he warned, and this time there was no joking.
Leo's grin didn't fade, but even he had to admit Levi's glare was serious. The room hummed with tension and laughter