Boy Trouble GT

Chapter 10

[KYE]

The dorm was quiet, save for the faint hum of the television. Kye could hear the low murmur of Mason's voice now and then, muttering something to himself as the basketball game played on the screen. He'd been in his room for what felt like hours, the encounter with the giants earlier still churning in his mind. The shame hadn't fully faded, but the suffocating silence of his room had finally become too much.

He shuffled out of his room quietly, his long, bare feet making soft sounds against the cold floor. He wore a loose black singlet that hung off his lanky frame, the fabric wrinkled from where he'd been lying on it. His pale skin caught the faint glow of the TV, making him look almost ghostly in the dim light. The singlet was old, stretched at the seams, and barely covered the tattoo on his ribs. His boxers hung low on his hips, and the chill of the night air brushed against his exposed skin, raising goosebumps on his arms.

Mason was curled up on one end of the lounge, his smaller frame almost dwarfed by the oversized cushions. His legs were tucked under him, his dark curls falling slightly over his forehead as he stared at the screen with quiet focus. The basketball game flickered across the television, the sound of sneakers squeaking on the court and the occasional roar of the crowd filling the space.

Kye hesitated in the doorway for a moment, his fingers brushing the edge of the doorframe. He felt out of place, still raw and exposed from earlier, but the sight of Mason—calm and steady—was enough to draw him forward. Without saying a word, he shuffled over to the lounge and sank down onto the cushions beside Mason, curling his long legs up to his chest.

The lounge groaned softly under his weight as he settled in, his arms wrapping around his knees. He leaned into the corner of the couch, letting his body fold in on itself as if trying to take up less space. His pale limbs were stark against the dark fabric of the couch, glowing faintly in the dim light.

Mason glanced over at him briefly, his green eyes softening. He didn't say anything at first, just turned back to the game with a small nod, as if to say you're welcome here.

Kye let out a quiet sigh, his chin resting on his knees as he stared at the television. He wasn't really watching the game, his mind still too cluttered with everything that had happened earlier. But the steady rhythm of Mason's breathing and the quiet murmur of the game were strangely comforting.

"You okay?" Mason asked after a few minutes, his voice low but gentle. He didn't look away from the screen, but his attention was clearly on Kye.

Kye nodded slightly, his arms tightening around his legs. "Yeah," he muttered. "Just... tired."

Mason hummed in response, a soft sound of acknowledgment. He reached for the bowl of popcorn sitting on the couch beside him and held it out toward Kye without looking.

Kye blinked, glancing down at the bowl. His lips twitched into a faint smile as he reached out and grabbed a handful, the kernels small in his large hand. "Thanks," he murmured.

"Don't mention it," Mason said, finally glancing over at him. His gaze lingered for a moment, taking in the way Kye's pale skin almost seemed to glow in the darkness. "You should've put on a jacket or something. You're gonna freeze out here."

Kye shrugged, popping a piece of popcorn into his mouth. "I'll live."

Mason snorted, shaking his head. "Barely. You're already half a ghost as it is."

Kye let out a quiet laugh, the sound barely audible but genuine. It felt good—lighter than he'd expected. He leaned back slightly, his body relaxing into the cushions as the tension in his chest began to ease.

For a while, they just sat there, the soft flicker of the television filling the silence between them. Mason occasionally muttered something about the game, and Kye would nod or grunt in response, but neither of them felt the need to fill the quiet. It was enough just to be there, side by side.

Eventually, Kye's eyes began to droop, the warmth of the lounge and the steady rhythm of Mason's presence lulling him into a light doze. His long limbs stretched out slightly, one of his legs brushing against Mason's. Mason didn't move, didn't complain—he just let Kye be, his small frame dwarfed beside the lanky giant.

As Kye drifted off, the weight of the day slowly lifting, he realized that he wasn't alone. And for the first time in a long time, that thought didn't scare him. It brought him comfort.