graf’s not silent, he’s just observing and kind of shy. he’s very vocal with people he’s close to, except he’s not close to many people. eky’s the first person to observe him rather than graf being the one observing. eky gets to see the side graf shows when he’s comfortable around people

eky’s had it so so rough, but it’s hardly ever noticed. not only does graf notice everything, so he sees eky’s silent struggle, but he understands it. they’re not identical in the tough things they’ve gone through, but at the very least they can come to each other as their bare selves. eky can be honest about how much shit sucks sometimes. so can graf

eky lost the people he’s close with on a much larger scale than graf, but it still happened to graf too, who feels it just as much because it’s hard for him to make any good friends. then he does and they’re pulled away. it makes him more withdrawn, but eky sees it. he shows graf he’s not the only one. they show each other that they can love a person who stays.

graf is so used to forcing himself to be seen and putting in more work than anyone just to obtain the things he wants. or, more accurately, he has to put in more work than anyone just to be wanted. and he’s so tired of it, so done, but he doesn’t realize eky wants him easier than breathing. graf is the first thing eky’s eyes find in a room. eky naturally gravitates toward graf. graf can love something (someone) that’s easy and simple, for once.

graf just makes eky smile, and he has no clue why. he’s so privately funny, and eky is so very amused when he sees the side of graf that jokes around. graf never realizes when he’s doing something that eky considers endearing or attractive. he rarely even realizes that, most of the time eky is smiling, it’s because of graf. he doesn’t think about it really, because he’s just grateful to see eky’s smile and dimples

graf honestly isn’t as nonchalant as he appears, but he’s so used to having to be that guy all his life (with the path he had to take to get to the nhl, he had to take on an unfazed demeanor) that it’s a mask he’s too used to be wearing. eky’s someone who finds what to look for in graf, how to spot when things aren’t so “chill.” he prides himself in being pretty good at getting graf to act more comfortably himself.

similarly, graf’s personality is the exact kind of personality eky needs. he’s not hyper all the time, and he doesn’t make eky feel like he needs to be perfectly okay and fun and laughing all the time. but he’s not serious or stoic, nor is he overbearing. it’s nice they have that peace/special relationship/balance together. eky would choose their inside jokes and habitual mannerisms over anything any day. being with graf just always feels good. it never gets exhausting. he never has to put up a front

graf is just so happy to have such a connection with someone. to be so seen, to feel so much joy, to be so cared for, loved, acknowledged, and recognized. it finally feels like all the hard work he’s done has a reward, and that reward is eky. of course he loves hockey so much, but there’s still always those games where he feels invisible to the world. eky never makes him feel like that.

william eklund vs. collin graf’s arms

collin graf vs. william eklund’s thighs

william eklund vs. collin graf’s scar

collin graf vs. william eklund’s dimples

william eklund vs. collin graf getting freckles in the sun

collin graf vs. william eklund’s curls

william eklund vs. collin graf’s hair getting long and fluffy

collin graf vs. william eklund’s accent

william eklund vs. collin graf’s chain

collin “doesn’t blush” graf vs. william “staring problem” eklund