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3rd Person POV

By the time basketball practice wrapped up that evening another week later, the sky was already starting to darken. The fading light stretched long shadows across the court as players made their way out of the gym, chatting and laughing in groups.

Usually, the energy after a good game was contagious, but Adrien felt somewhat apart from it, intentionally so, as he picked up his bag from the bench and slung it over his shoulder.

He had settled into a routine over the past week.

Show up. Play hard. Leave.

No lingering, no unnecessary conversations, no offers to hang out afterward, even though they often came his way. At first, his teammates had tried, clapping him on the back and asking if he wanted to grab food or check out whatever party was happening, their casual tones laced with curiosity they didn’t quite know how to express directly.

Adrien always said no.

Tonight was just like any other.

"Hey, Fell, we’re heading to Nathan’s place later," one of the guys called, tossing a towel over his shoulder. "You coming?"

Adrien didn’t even slow down as he walked toward the exit.

"Not tonight."

There was a moment of silence behind him, then a half-laugh.

"Man, you’ve been saying that all week."

Adrien waved a hand without looking back. "Guess I’m consistent."

That earned a few chuckles, but he was already outside, the cooler evening air hitting him as he stepped into the parking lot. It was mostly empty now, with just a few cars left belonging to the last stragglers from practice.

Instead of heading straight to his car, he paused for a moment at the edge of the lot, glancing around as if expecting something, or maybe just stalling for a second.

Going back to the mansion was something he’d rather not think about until it was absolutely necessary.

It wasn’t that he didn’t have places to go; he had plenty of options, way more than most people his age. There were parties, friends’ houses, and all sorts of distractions that could keep him away from the silence waiting for him at home.

But none of it sounded good to him. The thought of being in a crowded room filled with loud music and shallow conversations made his chest tighten, not from discomfort but from sheer exhaustion.

He didn’t have the energy for it.

So he stood there for a moment longer than he probably should have, fingers tightening around the strap of his bag as he let out a quiet breath.

"Didn’t expect to see you still here."

The voice was familiar enough that Adrien didn’t need to turn around right away to know who it was. But he did anyway.

Ethan was a few steps behind him, hands tucked into his jacket pockets, looking relaxed but with a guarded expression. The silence between them stretched out, feeling heavier than it ought to.

It wasn’t exactly hostility, but it wasn’t comfortable either.

A week ago, this interaction would have been charged with tension and rivalry, the kind that had colored their relationship for longer than either of them cared to admit. Now, it was just... off.

Like they were both standing on shaky ground without knowing how to move forward. Adrien shifted his weight, breaking the moment first.

"Thought you’d have gone home by now," he said, keeping his tone neutral but with a hint of curiosity underneath.

Ethan shrugged, glancing briefly at the empty court behind them before focusing back on Adrien. "Had some stuff to finish."

Adrien nodded, not pressing for more details.

Another pause hung in the air. Ethan let out a slow breath, as if considering his next words. "So...how are you doing?"

Adrien didn’t hesitate.

"I’m fine."

The response came easily, almost reflexively, just like he’d been saying all week.

Ethan’s lips twitched in a way that suggested he didn’t buy it, but he didn’t call him out on it. "Good, that’s good."

Adrien tilted his head slightly. "You?"

Ethan rubbed the back of his neck, a habitual gesture. "I’m fine too."

They both knew it was a fucking lie.

Neither of them brought it up.

For a second, it seemed like the conversation might just end there; they’d nod and go their separate ways, keeping to the unspoken agreement of avoiding each other because it was easier than figuring out what to do next.

But Ethan broke the silence first.

"You got plans tonight?" he asked casually, though there was something deliberate in his tone.

Adrien raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flickering at the corner of his mouth. "Are you asking me on a date?" His voice was dry. "Because I’m going to have to decline. You’re not exactly really my type, Golden boy."

Ethan shot him a disapproving look. "No, Asshole. I just meant to talk."

Adrien laughed quietly, shaking his head as he adjusted the strap of his bag. "Well, that’s disappointing."

Ethan rolled his eyes. "You done?"

"Probably not," Adrien admitted. "But I’ll spare you for now."

There was a brief pause before he shrugged. "I don’t have anything going on."

Ethan nodded once, like that was the answer he’d been hoping for. "Good. Come on."

Adrien didn’t question it.

He fell into step beside Ethan, both of them heading toward Adrien’s car without exchanging another word. The silence wasn’t as charged as before, but it still felt like there was something waiting to happen, something lurking just beneath the surface.

The drive didn’t take long. Ethan pulled into a public basketball court a few blocks away, usually bustling during the day but quiet at this hour, streetlights casting soft pools of light across the pavement.

As he stepped out of the car, Adrien glanced around, soaking in the calmness of the space.

"You bring all your dates here?" he asked, keeping his tone light.

Ethan shot him a look. "You really don’t know when to quit, do you?"

"Not really."

"Surprising."

Despite himself, Adrien smirked a little.

They didn’t waste time after that. The moment the ball hit the ground, something familiar fell into place, the tension shifting into sharper focus. This was their element, competition, control, the steady rhythm of movement that didn’t require anything beyond instinct and concentration.

They played hard, harder than necessary, really.

Neither held back; every pass, every shot, every defensive move was charged with a little more intensity than usual. It was never just a game for them; it had always been a challenge.

"Still slow," Adrien remarked at one point, slipping past Ethan for a score.

Ethan scoffed as he grabbed the ball rebounding back to him. "You wish."

"Proved otherwise." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Keep talking," Ethan retorted, already moving again. "Makes it easier to shut you up when I win!"

They went back and forth like that, the banter slipping into place easily despite everything else. The usual edge of rivalry grounded them in a way nothing else had lately.

Time flew by without either of them noticing, the sky darkened completely, the streetlights casting long shadows as their movements slowly began to tire. The game ended in a tie; neither of them was willing to give in.

Adrien bent forward slightly, hands on his knees as he caught his breath, sweat clinging to his skin.

"Pretty sure I had you at the end there, Shithead." he finally said.

Ethan dropped down at the edge of the court, leaning back on his hands and shaking his head. "You’re delusional."

Adrien straightened up, wiping sweat from his face with his shirt before sitting down beside him. "Score says otherwise."

"Score says tie," Ethan corrected. "Which means you didn’t win."

"Didn’t lose either."

Ethan let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. They sat there for a moment, the intensity of the earlier game fading into something more subdued as exhaustion set in.

Then the silence shifted, not suddenly but gradually, the weight of everything unspoken growing heavier until it couldn’t be ignored any longer.

Ethan broke the quiet first. "You know," he started, tone serious now, "this whole situation..."

Adrien didn’t look at him, but his body tensed slightly.

"...it’s messed up."

Adrien exhaled softly. "That’s one way to put it."

Ethan shook his head, staring straight ahead. "No, I mean everything...your dad, my uncle, Noah’s mom, the entire mess. And then on top of that..."

He hesitated for a moment before continuing. "You and Noah."