Morning sunlight spilled across the wooden floor of the house, soft and golden, the kind of light that made everything feel gentler than it really was. Willy blinked awake to the faint smell of coffee drifting in from the kitchen and the quiet clatter of Tim trying to move pans around without making noise.
He smiled sleepily into his pillow.
Willy stretched, blankets sliding off his shoulders, and padded softly into the hallway. He stopped at the kitchen doorway, leaning on the frame, watching Tim from behind. His dark T-shirt clung to him, his hair still messy, and he stood over the stove squinting like he was attempting to decipher a complex puzzle.
Willy bit back a laugh.
"Why are you standing like you're defusing a bomb?" he teased.
Tim jumped just a little. "I didn't want to wake you."
"You wake me by existing loudly." Willy stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Tim's waist from behind. "But in a good way."
Tim relaxed immediately, leaning back into him. "I just wanted to make breakfast." Willy pressed a soft kiss to his shoulder.
They ate at the small wooden table, shoulders brushing, feet touching beneath the surface without either of them pulling away. The house felt safe again, finally. Like something they earned.
As they finished eating, Willy leaned his chin on his hand and watched Tim with quiet affection.
"You know the qualification rounds start soon," Tim said. "I'm excited. I can't wait."
Willy looked up from his mug. "You're going to be incredible."
"You always say that."
"Because it's true."
Tim smiled, but he looked down. "Yeah, but I really want it this year."
Willy reached across the table, brushing his fingers against Will's. "And you will get it."
Tim squeezed his hand in return. Willy wasn't aware that Tim was the number one shooter in the country yet. Tim held the secret delicately, not hiding it to be deceitful, but waiting for the right moment. Waiting until Willy could face it without doubting himself.
But he still believed in Willy more fiercely than he believed in himself.
After breakfast, they lingered. They weren't in a rush. They had a full day of classes ahead, but the morning belonged to them to warmth, to comfort, to breath they finally had after weeks of tension.
At last, Willy nudged Tim with his knee. "We should get ready. Seb's gonna call me dramatic again if we're late."
Tim smirked. "Seb calls you dramatic for existing."
"He calls everyone dramatic," Willy returned. "Especially Al."
"They deserve it," Tim laughed.
The university courtyard buzzed with the usual morning chaos students rushing to class, others lingering with coffee, clubs setting up flyers and sign-up sheets. Snow crunched under shoes, melting into slush near the pathways.
Hand in hand, Willy and Tim walked through campus. Not hiding. Everyone already knew, and most people didn't care, which was… refreshing.
A group of students turned their heads as they passed, some smiling, some offering small nods. Willy always noticed the looks, even when he tried not to. Tim felt him stiffen a little and squeezed his hand.
"Hey," Tim murmured. "You're okay."
Willy nodded, exhaling. "I know. Just… leftover nerves."
"Then lean on me," Tim said softly.
Willy did.
Before they reached their building, the silence broke loud, dramatic, and entirely predictable.
"WILLY!" Seb barreled toward them through the snow like an overexcited golden retriever in human form. His curly hair bounced wildly as he skidded to a stop. "You're late again!"
"It's literally eight minutes past nine," Willy said.
"Eight minutes," Seb repeated as if announcing a tragedy. "Do you know how long that is in emotional time?"
"Please tell me this isn't about your 'emotional time theory' again," Al groaned, walking up behind him with a backpack slung over one shoulder. Al looked tired already probably because he had to walk here with Seb.
"It's science," Seb insisted.
"It's nonsense," Al corrected.
Logan arrived next, headphones around his neck. "Hi," he said simply, giving them a small wave. He was quiet, but observant, the kind of friend who didn't say much but noticed everything.
Then Ethan jogged over to join the group, slightly out of breath. "Sorry I overslept."
Tim lifted an eyebrow. "Two days in a row?"
Ethan flushed, shooting a glance at Seb. "It's… complicated."
Seb turned pink immediately. "Shut up."
Al threw his hands up. "Oh thank god, it's finally happening."
"It's not happening," Seb protested.
Logan deadpanned, "You're holding hands."
Both boys yanked their hands apart like they had touched a hot stove.
Tim laughed. Willy pressed his knuckles to his mouth to hide a grin. It was nice seeing someone else's romance unfolding awkwardly in real time, giving the campus a soap-opera vibe.
The group began walking together toward their lecture hall.
Students greeted them along the way some nodding, some calling out hellos. A couple of first-years whispered excitedly about the upcoming qualification rounds, one mentioning Willy's name as the favorite to win.
Willy's ears turned faintly pink, but he smiled.
"Look at you," Al teased. "Campus celebrity."
"Shut up."
Even so, Willy squeezed Tim's hand a little tighter. He felt steady now.
He had Tim beside him. He had friends who were loud and chaotic and very much alive. He had a competition to look forward to.
Tim watched him with quiet pride.
Ethan tapped Tim's shoulder. "Hey, by the way you still on for training later?"
"Yeah," Tim nodded. "We're going at six."
Ethan practically vibrated. "Can I come watch? I promise not to distract anyone!"
"Yes," Seb, Al, Logan, Tim, and Willy all said at once.
As they reached the lecture hall doors, the group filtered inside. Willy stopped just before entering, tugging Tim's sleeve gently.
Tim looked back. "Yeah?"
Willy leaned in slightly, speaking low. "Thank you for this morning."
Tim smiled softly, brushing a hand along Will's cheek in a brief, tender gesture. "Always."
Their friends had already slipped into the classroom, but Seb stuck his head back out of the doorway.
"Oh my god, stop being cute and get in here!" he complained.
Willy groaned. "Seb"
"We're sitting together," Seb announced firmly. "All of us!"
"Why?" Al asked from inside.
"Because I said so."
Tim laughed as Willy stepped through the doorway, joining the chaotic cluster of people who somehow became their little universe. Warmth, comfort, noise, teasing, love, future plans. It all wove together into something whole. Something good.
And even though qualification rounds were looming, and stress would come, and secrets still lay unspoken at that moment, surrounded by friends and sunlight and familiar voices, life felt right.