Scene One – Fallout
The locker room didn’t feel the same.
Too many eyes. Too many whispers. And that screenshot — grainy, dimly lit, but clear enough to see Malik Carter’s hand on the back of Jaden Brooks’ neck. A kiss. Private, late-night, blurry as hell… but still real.
And now, everywhere.
Phones were out. Some dudes pretended like nothing changed. Others kept their distance, awkward smiles or no eye contact at all. The buzz wasn’t just about the win anymore. It was about them.
Malik sat at his locker, untaping his wrist, jaw tight. He hadn’t said a word to Jaden since they stepped into the facility. Not because he didn’t want to — but because he didn’t know how to without lighting a fuse.
Coach’s voice broke the silence.
“Carter. Brooks. My office.”
Every head turned.
Malik stood first, not looking at anyone. Jaden followed. Their cleats clicked down the hall, too loud on the tile, like every step echoed.
Inside the office, Coach Redding was pacing.
“Sit,” he said, not looking at them.
They sat.
Coach finally turned, his face unreadable. “You two wanna tell me what the hell I’m dealing with?”
Malik cleared his throat. “You seen the picture.”
Coach nodded. “And the messages. And the whispers. And the tweets. You know who sent it?”
Malik shook his head. “Nah.”
Jaden’s voice was low. “We were careful.”
Coach stared at them both. “You’re two of the best damn players on this team. But this? This is the kind of thing that spirals.”
Malik leaned forward. “With all due respect, Coach, we ain’t apologizing for it.”
Jaden added, “We’re not ashamed.”
Coach didn’t flinch. “Good. Because I don’t give a damn who you sleep with. I care about the game. I care about the team. And right now, your personal shit is affecting both.”
Malik swallowed. “It won’t.”
“It better not,” Coach said. “Because if it does, I bench both of you. Clear?”
They nodded.
Coach leaned back. “You two got chemistry. I see it on the field. I see it in the film room. Just keep it there when the lights come on. You wanna be something off the field? Fine. Just don’t let it cost you what’s in front of you.”
A beat passed.
Then Coach’s tone shifted — softer. “And for the record… you ain’t the first.”
They blinked.
Coach stood. “That’s all. Handle your business.”
They left the office in silence. The hallway stretched long, heavy with everything unspoken. Malik stopped near the locker door.
“You good?” he asked quietly.
“Yeah,” Jaden nodded. “You?”
Malik exhaled. “I’m pissed. But not at you.”
They were about to part ways when a voice called out down the hall.
“Jaden?”
He turned — and froze.
Standing there was a familiar face. Tall. Athletic. A little older. Black hoodie. Pierced nose.
“Tre,” Jaden said, tension leaking into his voice.
Malik’s brows knit. “Who that?”
Jaden hesitated. “Old teammate. My last school.”
Tre smirked, stepping closer. “Didn’t know you transferred here. Or that you were putting on shows again.”
Jaden’s jaw clenched. “What you want?”
“Just came to say what up,” Tre said. “But damn… still bold, huh?”
Malik stepped forward, posture tightening. “You got a problem?”
Tre raised his hands. “Nah, bro. Just surprised. Guess some habits die hard.”
Jaden’s voice was flat. “We done here?”
Tre shrugged. “For now.”
He walked off, slow and smug.
Malik looked at Jaden. “Who the fuck was that?”
Jaden shook his head. “Nobody. Not anymore.”
But his face said otherwise.
And the fire that started as rumor was now fanned by a ghost from the past.
Scene Two – Confessions
The gym was nearly empty.
Late night. Dim lights humming. Echoes of sneakers and clanking weight racks. Malik Carter sat on the bench press, towel over his shoulder, staring at the floor like it held answers.
He couldn’t focus. Not with Tre walking around campus like some ghost who came back to fuck things up.
Not with his ex texting him cryptic shit like “so that’s who you are now?”
Not with Jaden spiraling in silence.
Malik had seen it — in the locker room, at practice, in the halls. Jaden wasn’t talking like usual. Not laughing. Not hanging back with him after plays or walking back from the gym like they’d made a habit of. He wasn’t eating much. His eyes looked darker. His smile was barely showing up.
They hadn’t touched since the leak.
Nobody said it out loud, but whispers were growing louder. The photo had done damage — not just because it exposed something private, but because it brought everything to the surface.
And Tre being back?
That just poured gas on it.
The gym door creaked.
Malik didn’t look up. “You been ghostin’ me, bro.”
Jaden didn’t speak at first. Just walked over, hoodie up, headphones dangling from his neck.
“I been thinkin’,” he said finally, his voice scratchy like he hadn’t spoken in a minute.
“Yeah? Bout what?”
Jaden leaned against the wall, arms crossed. “Everything.”
Malik looked up. “Tre?”
Jaden’s jaw flexed. “He used to be close. We hooked up a few times. But he switched up. Got possessive. At first it was just fun—some head, messing around after practice. He knew how to move, how to pull me in.”
Malik stayed quiet, listening.
Jaden’s tone dropped. “But then… he started actin’ like I owed him something. Got controlling. Wanted me to call him ‘sir.’ Wanted to own my time. Started showing up to my classes, keeping tabs.”
Malik’s eyebrows lifted slightly.
“Then one night I was in his room, and somebody showed up — ‘accidentally.’ Like they just happened to catch us. I was naked. It was messy. Next day? Shit was everywhere.”
Malik’s voice was low. “But you think he did.”
“I know he did,” Jaden said. “I just didn’t wanna believe it at the time.”
“Damn,” Malik muttered. “And now he’s here.”
Jaden nodded, voice barely above a whisper. “Feels like I’m back in a nightmare.”
Malik stood, crossed the space between them. “Look… this ain’t gonna be like last time.”
Jaden looked at him, unsure.
“I mean it,” Malik said. “You with me now. You don’t gotta be scared. That photo leaking? That don’t change what I feel. You’re not alone.”
Jaden let out a breath. “That picture…”
“We’ll handle it.”
“And your ex?”
Malik smirked. “Ain’t my ex anymore. And she ain’t got power here.”
Jaden paused. “So what are we doing, then?”
Malik stepped even closer. “We’re here, right? Already got people talkin’. Might as well give ‘em something real to talk about.”
Jaden searched his face. “You serious?”
Malik’s voice didn’t flinch. “I ain’t just fuckin’ you. I see you. And I’m not lettin’ some past mistake or leaked photo stop that.”
Something cracked. Jaden’s shoulders eased. The weight dropped an inch.
They walked back to Malik’s dorm in silence.
Inside, Malik kicked the door shut behind them. The lights stayed low. No need to speak anymore.
Clothes peeled. Breaths deepened. Jaden’s body met Malik’s with a hunger that wasn’t just about sex — it was about being seen, being chosen, being protected.
Malik kissed him like he needed to prove something. Like he’d been holding it in too long.
And when Jaden whispered, “Take it slow this time…”
He listened.
Malik traced his fingers along Jaden’s back, following the curve of his spine down to the dip above his ass. He kissed his neck, bit gently at his earlobe, watched the way Jaden trembled.
Jaden was already hard, his thick cock resting against Malik’s stomach, leaking slightly. Malik lowered, kissing down his chest, trailing his tongue along a muscle line, brushing his lips across one of Jaden’s nipples until it hardened.
He could feel Jaden arch beneath him, body hyper-aware. He was open. Vulnerable. And Malik took his time.
When Malik eased inside, slow and bare, Jaden let out a deep, guttural moan.
“Fuck… Lik…”
“I got you,” Malik whispered, pressing in deeper, stretching him inch by inch.
The bed creaked under the rhythm of Malik’s hips, his hands firm on Jaden’s waist. Jaden clawed at the sheets, his legs bent back, giving Malik full access to his tight, warm hole.
Malik leaned in close, licking the sweat from Jaden’s throat, groaning against his ear. “You mine tonight.”
Jaden gasped, “All yours…”
And Malik believed it.
Their bodies moved slow, then faster, a rhythm that wasn’t just lust — it was affirmation. It was everything Jaden hadn’t had with Tre — safety, care, respect.
Jaden came first, shaking, lips parted, eyes locked on Malik.
Malik followed, burying himself as deep as he could go, hips locking as he filled Jaden up with every drop he had.
They stayed tangled. Silent. Breathing.
“Still scared?” Malik asked softly.
Jaden shook his head. “Not with you.”
Malik smiled, brushing his thumb along Jaden’s jaw. “Good. Cause I’m not lettin’ nobody fuck this up. Not Tre. Not nobody.”
And for the first time since the leak, Jaden believed him.
Scene Three – Declaration
Monday came with more eyes than usual.
Practice was quiet at first, but tension buzzed under the surface. Whispers in the locker room. Phones tucked away just a little slower. People saying “yo” without looking directly at them.
Malik Carter was used to being watched — but this felt different.
Jaden Brooks kept his hoodie up most of the day. He didn’t speak unless spoken to. He caught Malik’s eyes a couple times across drills, but their usual rhythm was off. They were playing through noise now, and both of them felt it.
They weren’t just teammates anymore.
They were the headline.
A couple receivers were laughing about something by the water table. Malik couldn’t tell if it was about them. Probably was.
Coach blew the whistle. “Carter, Brooks. Hit the sleds.”
The drill brought them closer. Contact. Push. Breath against breath. Malik could see it in Jaden’s eyes — that simmering anger, that buried pride.
They finished the drill, but before Malik could say anything, he heard it:
“Guess that kiss got y’all matching now,” a defensive end muttered loud enough for people nearby to hear.
Malik turned. “What?”
The dude smirked. “Nothin’. Just sayin’, y’all real… coordinated.”
Before Jaden could pull him back, Malik swung.
The punch landed square in the guy’s chest. Not enough to injure, but enough to get attention. Whistles blew. Coaches rushed in.
“Carter! Locker room. Now.”
Malik stormed off, chest heaving, jaw tight.
Jaden caught up to him later, in the back hallway near the gear cage.
“You can’t be swingin’ like that,” Jaden said, voice low.
Malik leaned against the wall, breathing hard. “He tried me.”
“I know. But they want you to react. Don’t give ‘em that.”
Malik looked at him. “I ain’t tryna be no poster boy, J. I just want to be with you without all this bullshit.”
Jaden nodded slowly, stepping closer. “So be with me.”
Malik blinked. “Like, for real?”
“I mean… you already mine in here,” Jaden said, pressing a hand to his chest. “Might as well make it official.”
Malik’s voice softened. “You sure?”
Jaden grinned. “You asked me out in front of the whole school. I’m just catchin’ up.”
That night, they were in Malik’s room. The air was thick with quiet. A tension that had nothing to do with stress — and everything to do with curiosity and heat.
Malik pulled Jaden close. “Show me something new.”
Jaden raised an eyebrow. “You sure?”
“I trust you.”
Jaden reached into his gym bag, pulling out a small box. Inside — a sleek black cock cage.
Malik’s eyes widened slightly. “You brought that?”
Jaden smirked. “Been had it. Just waited on the right moment.”
He took his time, locking it around Malik’s dick, slow and intentional. Malik hissed — not in pain, but from how vulnerable it made him feel.
“I’m in control now,” Jaden whispered.
And Malik didn’t fight it. He let it happen.
Jaden teased him, edged him, never letting him fully come. The moans were low, breathy, controlled. When Malik finally begged, Jaden unlocked it and took him in his mouth, deep and slow.
The release hit harder than any before.
Afterward, Malik lay still, panting. “What the hell was that?”
“Power,” Jaden said, lying beside him. “Yours. And mine.”
By Wednesday, the whispers had shifted.
A couple linemen gave them nods at lunch. A cornerback — one of the quiet ones — sat down across from them in the dining hall and said, “Respect. Real shit.”
Later that night, a tight end Malik barely knew knocked on their door. Said he was DL. Said watching them be bold made him feel like maybe he didn’t have to be scared forever.
Jaden looked stunned.
They talked with him for a while. Just real shit. No performances.
When he left, Jaden sat on Malik’s bed and exhaled hard.
“I didn’t think anybody would say something like that.”
“They watching,” Malik said. “And some of ‘em probably wish they could do what we just did.”
Jaden was quiet for a second. “You ever think this gon’ hurt our chances? NFL? Scouts?”
Malik shrugged. “If it does, they wasn’t the right teams anyway. I’d rather be real than trapped.”
Jaden nodded, then tilted his head. “You really ready to be out-out?”
Malik stood in front of him, pulled him up by the waist, and kissed him again. “I already am.”
Later that night, after Jaden stepped out to grab something from the vending machine, he turned the corner — and froze.
Tre.
Leaning against the wall near his door.
“You always find your way back to me,” Tre said, smirking.
Jaden’s jaw tightened. “This ain’t that.”
Tre stepped closer. “I see you found yourself a quarterback. Cute. But don’t forget who had you first.”
Jaden stepped in, inches from his face. “And don’t forget why you lost me.”
Tre’s smile faded.
Jaden turned, heart pounding, and went back inside.
But he knew — this wasn’t over. Not yet.
Scene Four – Exposure
The TV was already on when Malik walked into the dorm lounge, but it was the silence in the room that froze him.
Every screen showed the same thing.
Breaking news. NCAA coverage. A panel of commentators, the headline brutal in its clarity:
“Leaked Image of Top College Athletes Sparks Questions on Privacy, Conduct, and Representation.”
Underneath, a blurry screenshot — their screenshot.
Jaden’s face in shadow, Malik’s hand at the back of his neck. That kiss. That moment. Now dissected frame by frame in front of the country.
One of the commentators said it carefully, like he was reading a legal script. “Sources say the image was submitted anonymously… but new details point to a leak from inside the university.”
Inside.
Campus.
Malik’s stomach sank.
He didn’t even realize he’d dropped his bag until someone touched his shoulder. It was Zay — the lineman who’d talked with them after lunch that day. Big dude, quiet voice. Always wore his snapback low.
“Yo, you good?” Zay asked.
Malik nodded slowly, eyes still on the screen. “Who knew it would go that far?”
Zay shrugged, face tight. “Jealousy real, bro. Some people ain’t ever gonna let y’all just live.”
Malik turned to him. “You think we’re done?”
Zay paused. “Nah. I think you just getting started.”
—
Jaden’s room was quiet.
He sat on the edge of his bed, staring at his phone. He’d watched the same news clip three times. Couldn’t breathe right.
He finally opened a different contact.
Dr. Marlin (Therapist)
🟢 Online
> Hey. You got 5 mins?
Dr. Marlin responded within seconds.
> Of course. FaceTime?
Jaden clicked accept.
When the familiar face appeared, calm and warm like always, Jaden’s throat caught.
“Rough day?” Dr. Marlin asked gently.
Jaden nodded. “It happened again.”
“The exposure?”
“Worse. National.”
He explained the photo, the leak, how Tre was back. How it all felt the same as before — except worse, because now he had something to lose.
Dr. Marlin listened closely. “You’re not the same kid from last year, Jaden. That boy didn’t know how to stand up after the fall. This one’s already on his feet.”
“But what if Malik walks away? What if it costs him everything?”
“You’ve told him the truth?”
“Mostly.”
“Then trust him with the rest. And trust yourself to survive.”
—
Meanwhile, Malik’s phone wouldn’t stop buzzing.
His mom had called twice. His dad once. Then again.
He didn’t want to deal with it. But he knew better.
He stepped outside into the dusk and hit call.
“Malik?” his mother’s voice cracked.
“I’m here.”
“Why am I seeing you on the news like this? Why didn’t you tell us?”
His father’s voice cut in. “You were always quiet about girls. But this…”
Malik steadied himself. “Yeah. This.”
They were quiet.
His mother exhaled. “I’m not mad. Just surprised. You always kept your heart to yourself.”
“I didn’t mean to hide it,” Malik said. “Just didn’t know how to explain something I was still learning.”
“You happy?” his father asked.
Malik thought about Jaden’s laugh, the way he relaxed when they were alone. The way he kissed like he was still scared but wanted to try anyway.
“Yeah. I am.”
Another silence — but not the heavy kind.
“Then that’s what matters,” his mom said softly. “You’re still ours. Still you.”
Malik didn’t realize he was crying until he wiped his cheek.
—
Later that night, Coach Redding sent them both a message.
My place. 8PM. Bring your hunger.
They weren’t sure what to expect, but they showed up.
His house was low-lit and warm, filled with the smell of garlic and something roasting. There was music playing — old R&B. A tall man in an apron opened the door. “You must be Malik and Jaden. Come in.”
Jaden blinked. “Wait…”
Coach walked in from the kitchen. “This is Nate. My husband. And those are our twins on the couch, pretending they’re not listening.”
The kids waved, then turned back to the TV.
Malik looked stunned.
Coach smiled. “When I told you, ‘Y’all ain’t the first’? This is what I meant.”
Jaden whispered, “And we won’t be the last.”
“Exactly,” Coach said. “You’re gonna survive this. I’ll make sure of it. I got you.”
They sat, they ate, they breathed. For the first time in days, it felt like maybe everything wasn’t falling apart.
—
Jaden got back to his room.
It was quiet — too quiet.
Then came the knock.
He opened the door. Tre stood there.
“I’m not here to start drama,” Tre said, eyes low. “I just wanted to talk. Clear the air.”
Jaden didn’t know why he let him in.
But he did.
Tre sat down. Talked about the past. About what they had. How Jaden used to look at him.
“You still do,” he said, voice barely above a whisper.
Then Tre leaned in.
The kiss was sudden. Not deep — but not brief either.
Jaden pulled back. “You need to go.”
That’s when the door opened.
Malik.
His jaw clenched. His fists did too.
“What the fuck is this?”
Jaden stood up fast. “It’s not what it looks like.”
Tre smirked. “Isn’t it?”
Malik didn’t swing. But he wanted to.
Instead, he stepped toward Tre. “You the one who leaked it, huh?”
Tre froze.
Jaden looked between them, realization crashing in.
“You?” he said, voice shaking.
Tre didn’t deny it.
Malik’s voice was ice. “You still tryna control him. Still think you got a hold.”
Jaden was trembling.
Malik turned to him. “You done with him?”
Jaden nodded, slowly but firmly. “Yeah. I am.”
Malik stepped aside. “Then get him outta here.”
Tre left, eyes burning. But he didn’t say a word.
When the door closed, Jaden fell into Malik’s arms.
And for the first time since the leak, they didn’t feel exposed — they felt seen.
And the real story had only just begun.
Scene Five – Collision
The sun broke through the blinds slow, catching on the mess of clothes scattered across the dorm floor. Jaden stirred first, forehead resting against Malik’s chest, their legs tangled beneath the sheets. Neither one moved for a while.
The night before still hung in the air—heavy, raw, and unresolved.
Malik rubbed lazy circles along Jaden’s back, voice rough with sleep. “He ain’t got no hold on you,” he murmured. “Not here. Not anymore.”
Jaden exhaled, the sound shaky. “You sure?”
Malik didn’t flinch. “I see you, Jay. He don’t get to own that anymore.”
They stayed in bed through morning drills, letting the campus move without them. Out in the hallway, doors slammed, feet rushed by. But inside this room, they were still. Healing in the quiet.
By noon, the buzz was everywhere.
Whispers between locker rows. A new article floating around, shared in screenshots and low murmurs:
“NCAA SOURCE: Campus Leak Traced to Former Player with Locker Room Access.”
Jaden stared at his phone, heart racing.
Malik read over his shoulder. “It’s Tre.”
“I know.” Jaden’s stomach flipped. “He really tried to ruin me again.”
“But he didn’t,” Malik said. “You’re still here. With me.”
The air stayed tight after that. Jaden stayed mostly silent, pacing the dorm, while Malik tried to stay calm—but the tension was back. Not between them, just around them. Everywhere.
A buzz broke the quiet.
Zay: You around? Wanna talk. Not on some drama.
Jaden looked up. “It’s Zay. He wants to talk.”
Malik sat up. “You wanna go?”
“I think I should. He’s been cool. And I feel like… something’s weighing on him.”
Malik nodded, jaw tight but trusting. “Handle it. But be real with me after.”
Jaden kissed his forehead. “Always.”
They met near the back quad—quiet, shaded, tucked behind a set of practice trailers. Zay was already there, pacing, hood up.
He looked up. “You came.”
“Course I did.”
Zay shifted. “I saw that post this morning. Whole Tre thing. That shit’s wild.”
“Yeah, it’s been a mess.”
Zay’s eyes darted, like checking for witnesses. Then softer, he said, “I been wanting to say something. But I ain’t had the balls.”
Jaden waited.
Zay ran a hand over his face. “When that photo first dropped, it didn’t make me judge you. It made me… question myself.”
“You don’t owe me an explanation.”
“I want to though.” Zay looked up. “You’re brave, man. You didn’t ask for this spotlight, but you ain’t running from it. That did something to me.”
Jaden’s throat tightened. “Zay…”
“I ain’t tryna step in your shit. I know you and Malik got somethin’ real. But I been holding this so long, I needed someone to say it to.”
Jaden stepped closer. “You’re not alone in that.”
Zay smiled, but it didn’t reach all the way. “Thanks, man.”
He turned to leave, but paused. “You’re lucky. Having someone who sees all of you.”
Jaden swallowed. “It took me a long time to believe I deserved that.”
Zay nodded, then walked off.
Back at the dorm, Malik was on edge.
Soon as Jaden walked in, he could feel it. “Everything good?”
Jaden nodded. “Zay just needed to talk. That’s it.”
“You sure?”
Jaden closed the door. “I’m here, ain’t I?”
Malik stood, chest rising with heat. “I saw the way he looked at you after practice. Like he wanted more than words.”
“You jealous?”
“Hell yeah I am.”
Jaden stepped closer. “Then say it.”
Malik didn’t flinch. “I want you to myself.”
“Then prove it.”
He shoved Malik back toward the bed, hands on his chest, breath rising. “You want control? Or you want to give it up again?”
Malik’s eyes flickered. “What you think?”
Jaden reached into the drawer, pulling out the black cock cage. Malik’s mouth parted—he remembered the last time.
“No nutting until I say,” Jaden said, voice low, dominant.
Malik dropped his sweats without hesitation. “Do it.”
Jaden knelt, eyes locked on him as he slid the cage on. Malik groaned, hips twitching. “You sick for this.”
Jaden smiled, mouth brushing Malik’s neck. “And you love it.”
He cuffed Malik’s wrists with one of his ties, dragging him to the bed.
The session was primal.
Jaden took control—grinding on him, teasing him, letting Malik edge on the brink while never letting him cum. Malik cursed, begged, bit into his own shoulder to muffle the sounds.
Jaden was everywhere. On his chest. Between his legs. His tongue made promises his hands kept. The cage made it torturous. Beautiful.
When Jaden finally unlocked it and rode Malik, it was with slow, deep strokes—like a claim.
“You’re mine,” Jaden whispered.
“Say it again,” Malik gasped.
“You’re mine.”
They came hard—Malik first, spilling deep inside him. Jaden followed, chest to chest, both trembling.
Then the door cracked open.
They hadn’t heard it.
Zay stood frozen in the doorway, wide-eyed. “Shit—I didn’t mean—”
Jaden scrambled for the blanket. Malik sat up, jaw clenched.
Zay turned to go. “I’m sorry. The door was open—someone said y’all were in here—”
Malik called out, “Zay—wait.”
But he was gone.
A long silence followed.
Jaden ran a hand over his face. “I can’t believe that just happened.”
Malik grabbed his phone, about to lock the door. That’s when it buzzed again.
Anonymous DM: You really think it’s over?
Jaden read it and froze.
Malik stood behind him, chest to his back. “He’s still watching?”
Jaden nodded slowly. “It’s Tre.”
“I got you,” Malik said. “You hear me? I don’t care who sees. But if you want this? You can’t keep running.”
Jaden looked back, eyes raw but steady. “Then let’s stay loud.”
Malik pulled him close.
Outside, the world was spinning fast.
But in that room—door locked now—they had their center.
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