Chet and Bonkar walked out of the scrim room together, the tension from earlier easing into a comfortable silence. The sun was just starting to dip below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the streets outside the training facility. Bonkar glanced sideways at Chet, a teasing smirk playing on his lips.
“So, you want to grab something to eat?” he asked, nudging Chet lightly with his elbow. “There’s a McDonald's nearby. I hear they’ve got a deal on chicken nuggets.”
Chet chuckled, shaking his head. “Yeah, sure. Let’s see if your taste in fast food is as solid as your strategies.”
They made their way to the McDonald's down the street, the neon lights buzzing overhead as they pushed through the glass doors. Inside, the place was nearly empty, except for a lone figure behind the counter, head down, messing with the register. It took Chet a second to recognize him.
“Yay? What are you doing here?” Chet asked, raising an eyebrow.
Yay looked up, flashing them a quick grin. “Gotta make some extra cash during the off-season. Esports doesn't cover everything, you know?” He gave a little shrug, then leaned forward, his tone more serious. “So, what’ll it be, guys?”
Bonkar scanned the menu for a moment before glancing at Chet with a playful grin. “Twenty-piece chicken nuggets, please. And, uh, some extra sweet and sour sauce.”
Chet rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide the small smile tugging at his lips. “Yeah, same for me.”
Yay rang up their order, handing them a tray piled high with nuggets and sauces. “Enjoy, boys. And don’t cause too much trouble, alright?”
Chet shot him a mock salute before he and Bonkar took their tray to a corner booth. As they settled in, the banter from before faded into a quieter, more intimate silence. They munched on the chicken nuggets, their knees bumping under the table every so often, each touch sending a jolt through Chet’s chest.
At some point, Bonkar reached out, swiping a bit of sauce off the corner of Chet’s mouth with his thumb. Chet froze, his breath catching as their eyes locked, the air between them thickening once more.
“You got something on your face,” Bonkar murmured, his voice low and teasing, but there was a deeper undertone there too—something that made Chet’s pulse quicken.
“Yeah, well... thanks,” Chet replied, his voice barely more than a whisper. He leaned in, closing the distance between them, his lips brushing against Bonkar’s before pressing more firmly.
Bonkar responded immediately, his hand coming up to cup Chet’s cheek, pulling him closer. The kiss deepened, soft and slow at first, but then more urgent, as if all the rivalry, the frustration, the unspoken words from earlier melted away into this single moment.
They broke apart only when the doorbell jingled, signaling a new customer. Chet glanced over, his face flushed, then back at Bonkar, who looked just as breathless, a crooked grin on his face.
“So,” Bonkar said, leaning back in his seat, his voice light but his gaze intense. “How’s that for a reality check?”
Chet laughed, shaking his head as he reached for another nugget. “Yeah, okay. You win this one, Bonkar. But don’t get used to it.”
Bonkar’s smile softened as he leaned forward again, resting his hand over Chet’s on the table. “We’ll see about that, Chet.”
And there, in the corner booth of a nearly empty McDonald's, under the fluorescent lights, they found a little bit of peace—just two coaches, a tray of chicken nuggets, and the beginning of something new.
Discord