#unch4rted things

"Sway?" Linus inquired, his tone tinged with concern. "Is everything okay?"

Linus settled onto the couch in their shared apartment, setting down the bowl of popcorn he had prepared after briefly leaving to fetch glasses of water from the kitchen.

Jeremy's conversation with Sway jolted him out of his anxious reverie, causing his brown eyes to lock onto Linus's concerned blue gaze.

"I'm fine," Sway insisted with a forced smile, but the expression vanished as Linus's frown deepened, reflecting growing worry.

"You're terrible at lying, Jeremy," Ullmark remarked with a soft sigh, arms crossed as he observed Jeremy's tense demeanour with gentle concern in his eyes.

Ullmark and Swayman have a deep understanding of each other, able to detect any hint of dishonesty due to their history together. Sway let out a heavy sigh, his gaze dropping to his hands as he felt a tight, uneasy sensation in the pit of his stomach. "It's just... I don't know, it's silly," he murmured.

Linus reached out, his hand moving closer to Jer's, and he gently took hold of his boyfriend's hand, offering a reassuring squeeze. "No, it's not silly at all. What's on your mind?"

Sway's lips curved downward into a frown, a hint of unease mixing with the waves of worry. "I'm just... afraid you'll end up being traded," he admitted.

Linus's expression softened at the confession. "Oh, Jeremy..." Ullmark murmured, drawing closer to his boyfriend, enfolding him in a comforting embrace, and holding him close.

Swayman nestled onto Linus's lap, while Linus wrapped his arms around Jer's waist, his thumbs gently tracing circles on the skin beneath the fabric, offering a calming touch.

"I have a no-trade clause, besides, I don't think they would trade me, not with how devastated the whole team, management, and the fan base would be," Linus said, pressing his face into Jer's hair, kissing the top of his head. "Besides, I have a no-trade clause," He said, repeating the statement as if to reassure the anxious man in his arms.

Jeremy frowned, shaking his head. "Yeah, but it's so close to the end of the season- anything could happen, you never know!"

"Sway," Linus started, pulling back from his boyfriend, holding his face between his hands, forcing the brunette to meet his eyes, a frown set on his face.

"If it gets too bad, I'll tell you," Linus said softly, running his thumb along Jeremy's cheek, feeling the soft skin under his touch.

"I don't want to lose you, Ully," Swayman said softly, his voice small and vulnerable.

"You're not going to, Jeremy," Ullmark said, his tone reassuring. "I promise."