fto

It always was in

he stadium. The Fire Cup MVP trophy was heavy in his right hand. His

y Clifton had found in solo queue and decided to keep. They'd duck

eer. A single rusted streetlamp flickered abov

et brick wall. His chest heaved. He t

. His deep, dark eyes were locked onto Clifton, filled with something that looked like magnetic attract

splash. Muddy water sprayed ont

freezing face with both hands.

n by months of suppressed desire

ssed against Justice's,

age wire had been jammed into his spine. Before Clifton could

pine hit the brick wall. Pain ra

ooke

own mouth, knuckles bone-white. His chest heaved erratically. His eyes were wide-f

plashed into a deep puddle. A harsh,

pended in the cold air. Rain soaked his sleeve. His

as crystal clear. This was raw. Unfakeable.

much, why did you spend six months playing duos w

ng for air, shaking his head frantically. He tr

hat silence w

liar whose scam ha

the muddy trophy. Looked

t o

of that alley, leaving the violentl

iliation, Clifton blocked Justice's number. His

tic

and stale disinfectant, Justice sat on the edge of a stained mattress.

sage four times.

y, he

not you. Pleas

ord he dreaded and hope

ive

efreshed obsessively, each empty notification a small death. C

had convinced himself of the narrative that

f without some