#i. felix bordeaux . . . citius altius fortius communiter .

[athl3tes]

take two // @tvintedspvrk

⸻   chalk   powder   dust   blown   away   by   a   waft   of   his   voice   ,   meandering   over   towards   the   center   of   gym   mats   laid   strategically   around   the   training   area   .   he’d   come   down   earlier   than   most   mornings   to   get   ahead   of   the   influx   of   olympians   who   likely   had   the   same   idea   .   fresh   off   the   pole   vault   ,   he’d   pondered   over   towards   the   spectator   area   .   gentle   hazel   hues   look   on   in   appreciation   .   broad   lats   rising   and   falling   with   deep   breaths   ,   palms   sat   atop   blonde   locks   in   an   effort   to   pull   in   more   air   .   ❝   y’know   ,   you   technically   aren’t   a   spectator   .   .   .   so   ,   ❞   gesture   made   inwards   to   waiting   mats   ,   grin   plastered   on   his   face   .   ❝   don’t   appreciate   from   too   far   .   i   thought   you   wanted   to   get   some   practice   in   ?   ❞

[athl3tes]

felix bordeaux your jawline is kind of nuts

[athl3tes]

⸻   ❝   yeah   ,   yeah—   okay   .   y’know   what   ?   that’s   a   good   idea   ,   let's   do   that   .   ❞   laughter   rumbled   from   defined   chest   ,   soothing   riled   up   excitement   .   body   shifted   from   one   end   of   table   to   the   other   ,   hazel   hues   gazing   across   the   table   .   ❝   okay   ,   so   ,   i’m   just   gonna   like   .   .   .   ❞   awkward   pause   then   ,   allowing   the   gymnast   to   contemplate   the   most   efficient   way   to   proceed   .   ❝   take   a   bite   ,   like   a   messy   bite   .   i   guess   ?   ❞   muffin   wrapper   nudged   downwards   ,   a   tumultuous   chunk   drawn   from   gooey   centre   .   allowing   chocolate   sauce   to   smudge   around   brims   .   hardly   able   to   contain   the   laughter   building   in   his   gut   .   ❝   i   look   so   dumb   ,   oh   my   god—   start   the   video   before   people   think   i’m   crazy   .   ❞

⸻   affectionate   grin   remains   painted   atop   plush   brims   ,   button   nose   scrunched   as   excitement   of   the   male   gymnast   proves   contagious   .   ❝   you're   gonna   need   to   breathe   for   me   ,   yeah   ?   ❞   teases   softly   ,   timbre   entirely   enamored   as   slight   torso   inclines   .   forehead   rests   against   beaming   opposite   ,   positioned   to   allow   for   elfin   digits   to   navigate   upside   down   the   phone   within   felix's   hands   .   ❝   i   think   we   clearly   need   to   do   this   one   ,   ❞   declares   certainly   ,   search   bar   implored   for   most   viral   of   videos   regarding   the olympic   sweets   .   ❝   i   can   be   the   person   that   says   i   feel   like   you're   only   here   for   blah   blah   blah   ,   and   then   we   cut   to   you   with   the   chocolate   all over   your   mouth   ?   maybe   if   we   tag   him   , he'll want to do one together   !   ❞   muses   aloud   ,   quick   peck   stolen   before   sinking   back   into   her   seat   .

[athl3tes]

⸻   ❝   isn’t   he   freaking   hilarious   ?   ❞   felix   giggled   ,   a   hymn   often   coined   infectious   by   those   whose   ears   it   graced   .   day   in   ,   day   out   he   stood   as   a   beaming   light   of   hope   and   happiness   in   the   village   .   today   certainly   was   no   exception   as   they   strided   into   the   dining   hall   ,   eyes   keen   and   on   the   lookout   for   the   signature   chocolate   muffin   .   finding   it   ,   he’d   done   due   diligence   in   acquiring   not   one   ,   but   two   delightfully   baked   pastries   in   either   palm   .   brought   to   the   ready   at   an   acquired   table   where   they   sat   opposite   of   each   other   ,   only   being   set   down   to   instead   prepare   phone   .   ❝   okay   ,   how   the   heck—   how   are   we   gonna   do   this   .   ❞

⸻   for   half   a   second   brunette   simply   stares   as   her   fellow   olympian   gushes   about   confections   ,   before   bubbling   giggle   cuts   through   blank   expression   entirely   .   ❝   you really are just   so   cute   it   hurts   ,   ❞   quips   with   infatuated   air   ,   soft   brush   of   cropped   tress   from   the   temple   of   the   male   gymnast   as   path   is   set   for   the   infamous   dining   hall   .   ❝   i   actually   haven't   tried   one   either   ;   i   didn't   know   how   important   they   were   until   i   saw   one   of   his   videos   this   morning   !   ❞   smile   appears   plastered   immovable   across   bright   countenance   ,   excitement   bred   from   that   of   her   companion   setting   a   bounce   within   light   steps   upon   entry   into   crowded   cantina   .   

[athl3tes]

⸻   ❝   i   actually   don’t   plan   on   seeing   you   much   through   a   screen   ,   ❞   felix   mused   ,   lightly   powdered   ,   calloused   digits   interlace   with   her   own   .   starting   off   away   from   the   morning   influx   of   olympic   gymnasts   coming   in   for   their   afternoon   practice   sessions   .   a   quick   swing   by   bleachers   ,   and   canadian   branded   gym   bag   straddled   his   shoulders   .   ❝   you   know   what   i’ve   actually   been   meaning   to   try   .   .   .   now   that   you   mention   it   ,   ❞   beaming   smile   lit   up   his   face   ,   seemingly   unable   to   contain   it   .   ❝   that   chocolate   muffin   ,   you   know   the   one   the   norwegian   guy   is   raving   about   ?   i   feel   like   we   have   to   make   a   tiktok   about   it   before   we   go   home   .   no   ?   ❞

⸻   dimples   flex   as   affectionate   nod   overtakes   flushed   countenance   ,   tender   brushing   of   brims   as   toned   forelimbs   slip   further   about   the   neck   of   the   male   athlete   .   ❝   felix   bordeaux   ,   are   you   telling   me   you'd   fly   across   the   world   for   me   ?   ❞   mischievous   simper   accompanies   scrunch   of   button   nose   ,   further   pecks   stolen   and   peppered   to   the   whole   of   his   visage   .   ❝   i   would   love   that   ,   ❞   whispers   reverently   ,   punctuated   with   one   more   firm   ,   earnest   kiss   before   she   hops   down   at   last   .   palms   rest   upon   broad   chest   ,   doe   like   gaze   tilted   up   to   meet   that   of   the   other   olympian   .   ❝   we'll   figure   it   out   ,   yeah   ?   we'll   make   it   work   .   you're   gonna   get   so   sick   of   seeing   this   face   on   your   phone   ,   just   you   wait   ,   ❞   giggles   with   enamored   air   ,   elfin   digits   entwining   with   more   sturdy   counterparts   .   ❝   for   now   ,   though   . . .   lunch   ?   ❞

[athl3tes]

⸻   jaw   captured   between   nimble   fingers   ,   gaze   averted   downwards   into   a   huffy   sigh   .   never   one   to   acknowledge   the   impending   reality   of   their   situation   .   one   that   would   see   them   part   ways   ,   soon   to   be   on   opposing   ends   of   the   globe   .   ❝   you   know   we   have   .   .   .   planes   and   stuff   ,   it’s   not   like   we’re   never   gonna   see   each   other   ever   again   .   ❞   palms   shuffle   a   little   bit   ,   broad   shoulders   roll   into   a   doubtful   shrug   .   ❝   i   mean   ,   not   even   like—   i’d   love   to   spend   some   time   down   in   australia   ,   you   know   ?   if   i   win   the   gold   ,   i   could   take   some   time   away   and   everything   .   ❞   dread   hadn’t   yet   set   in   ,   perhaps   unrealistic   expectations   swooning   in   his   mind   .   but   not   out   of   reach   ,   yet   .   

⸻   ❝   shit   ,   wouldn't   that   be   something   ?   ❞   airy   giggles   pour   from   plush   ,   rosy   brims   ,   slight   limbs   wrapping   tight   about   the   canadian   as   petite   frame   is   drawn   in   close   .   ❝   hmmm   . . .   i   did   say   something   like   that   ,   didn't   i   ?   ❞   impish   smirk   ticks   upward   at   dimpled   margins   ,   lips   of   the   male   olympian   claimed   deeply   and   earnestly   .   ❝   you   better   not   ,   ❞   chides   softly   into   the   gesture   before   retreating   but   a   few   inches   ,   elfin   palm   cupped   about   chiseled   jawline   .   ❝   we're   gonna   have   to   hold   on   real   tight   for   a   minute   once   the   games   are   over   . . .   ❞   timbre   takes   on   more   solemn   tone   ,   perch   maintained   as   dainty   thumb   begins   tender   caress   of   cheek   –   though   only   a   second   is   allowed   for   dread   before   kittenish   simper   takes   hold   once   more   .   ❝   so   we   better   make   some   really   solid   memories   to   tie   us   over   . . .   ❞

[athl3tes]

⸻   ❝   something   like   that   ,   maybe—   ❞   joke   tossed   back   with   joyful   grin   which   had   taken   over   previously   abstracted   features   .   few   strides   carry   him   to   the   foot   of   the   bar   ,   spotting   the   female   gymnast   at   the   crux   of   her   routine   and   then   stepping   away   once   she’d   finished   .   palms   clap   together   ,   chalk   dust   cloud   puffed   up   in   a   ploom   .   ❝   you   know   ,   if   you   do   that   at   the   actual   competition   ,   they   might   just   give   you   a   gold   medal   .   ❞   laughter   tumbled   from   parted   brims   ,   stocky   arms   trapped   themselves   around   the   dip   in   her   hips   .   vast   palms   rest   over   intimate   rear   ,   pulling   her   into   his   towering   frame   .   ❝   what   was   that   about   keeping   your   hands   off   of   me   .   .   .   oh   ,   yeah   ,   never   said   i   had   any   intention   of   doing   that   .   did   i   ?   ❞

⸻   bright   grin   commandeers   bronzed   countenance   as   gazes   meet   ,   toned   stomach   once   again   set   a   flutter   with   enamored   butterfly   wings   .   ❝   didn't   trust   myself   to   keep   my   hands   off   of   you   ,   ❞   calls   back   impishly   ,   though   slight   frame   does   indeed   rise   from   defended   perch   .   dramatic   stretch   highlights   each   leotard   clad   curve   of   the   female gymnast   ,   further   exacerbated   as   sweatpants   –   belonging   to   male   counterpart   ,   rather   than   a   pair   of   her   own   –   hit   the   mat   .   ❝   alright   ,   drill   seargant   ,   ❞   teases   flirtatiously   ,   garment   gathered   and   placed   to   the   side   before   elfin   figure   makes   for   nearby   beam   .   ❝   what   is   this   ,   the   olympics   ?   ❞   terrible   joke   ,   though   giggles   pull   from   plush   brims   nonetheless   as   warmups   undertaken   .   she   had   wanted   the   practice   time   ,   though   allotted   window   in   which   to   marvel   uninterrupted   at   the   man   for   whom   she's   found   herself   falling   has   certainly   not   gone   unappreciated   .   ❝   you'll   catch   me   if   i   slip   ,   right   ?   ❞   quips   with   timbre   coy   and   facetious   – before   running   a   cursory   ,   nearly   perfect   drill   of   prepared   routine   .