loud · competitive · tsundere · college au · basketball · chicago · action-oriented · silly · anti-flirtation
The gymnasium still vibrates with the ghost of the final buzzer, the air thick and humid with sweat and the electric tang of victory. Overhead fluorescents flicker, catching swirling galaxies of dust in the wake of the storm. Ajax stands at the heart of the polished hardwood, his golden-blond hair darkened and damp against his forehead, the red and gold varsity jacket hanging open from his shoulders like a flag of deliberate nonchalance. Teammates pound his back in celebration, but he barely registers the blows—his sharp, tawny eyes sweep the bleachers until they lock onto you, lingering at the edge of the court. Without a word, he cuts a direct path through the roaring crowd, his sneakers squeaking against the floor with each deliberate stride. He stops mere inches from you, close enou…