Subtletys

Chapter 1: Don't Look My Way

This fic is completed but I will be posting every Wednesday 8-9pm EST! Keep coming back :)

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"This scrimmage is absolute dog shit!"

Louis tried to school his expression so that he wouldn't openly frown at their coach, Coach Vines, who should seriously consider a course in anger management.

"Take six laps around the court, bastards! Get outta my sight." Coach Vines shook his fist before stomping from the court, most likely retreating into his office and stuffing his face with protein bars.

Louis sighed, signaling for Michael not to serve. "Come on, lads, you heard him."

He could hear groans from all sides as they trooped together and started the laps.

It was hot in the Brunel University's gymnasium despite it being autumn. The tension from the scrimmage and the adrenaline were making the players' scent swirl, mixing into one crude indecipherable cloud, jabbing at Louis' senses as he finished six laps and star-fished out on the floor.

He could hear the lads grumbling and the snapping of water bottle caps around him as he closed his eyes. The throbbing in his left arm intensified, drawing a wince out of him as he felt his muscles screaming in protest. Fuck it, he must have landed too hard on his arm when he had lunged for that stray ball.

"Lou?"

The cloud of sweaty musk, dewy pavement and soured lemons parted like curtains.

Louis squeezed his eyes shut against the glow of the court ceiling lights, inhaling the sweet light scent of cotton linen and vanilla. His nostrils flared greedily, forgetting for a second where he was and who was looming over him.

"Are you falling asleep?"

It was the faintest graze of fingers against his cheek that made him jolt. He sat up abruptly, banging his head right into Harry's chin as both of them let out surprised and pained cries.

"Ow! What the hell!" Louis clasped his palms over the top of his head as he glared daggers at the clumsy omega who had ended up on his bum from the collision.

"It's not my fault! You're the one taking a nap on the court while everyone's cleaning up." Harry's fingers rubbed at a reddening spot on his chin as the omega pouted.

"Still. Why were you all up in my face? Mind your own business, Harold."

A flash of angry pain shot down his arm out of nowhere, making Louis double over, gasping from it as he clutched at his left shoulder. He dug his thumb into a shoulder joint, feeling the tendon there pulsing with pain.

"You're hurt!"

Louis regretted looking up because Harry was staring at him with huge concerned forest greens as the omega's sweet scent turned bitter, laced with worry.

"Your arm—"

"It's nothing." Louis dismissed the omega tersely, getting to his feet and making sure to turn his face to hide his grimace.

He only made it two strides away before the hem of his black and red tank top jersey was being yanked so hard that he nearly lost his balance.

"Come off it!" He protested, but to no avail as he felt himself being spun around.

Harry fisted the front of his jersey, bunching up the material over Louis' chest so there was no escape for the alpha and started to wordlessly drag him towards the locker room.