Work Text:
- Tank had always been Bradley's confidant
- scheming together, coming up with plans for how they'd win the next X Games competition, practicing skating together, giving each other pointers. Bradley trusted Tank, no one else knew the dark secrets that lay behind Bradley's family life. He'd even seen Brad's genuine smile, not the sneer or smirk he gave to those who presented as a threat to him.
- To an outsider, they seemed like best friends. And to the Gammas Tank was Bradley's right hand man.
- Their relationship wasn't exactly a secret, moreso something that hadn't fully blossomed yet.
- Lingering touches, the way they looked at each other
- Things changed when Brad started to pay extra attention to a certain freshman and began acting different towards girls to try to get a rise out of Max.
- Before then, Brad had focused his attention on Tank. That was how they had won each game
- Studying together in the library, Tank asks Bradley about it and he replies with an explanation but not with much detail. Tank prompts him with "I've never seen you ( insert a reference to how he acts around Max ) before." Trying to imply how he feels about that sort of attention being given to Max and not him.
- Brad gives more of an explanation, clarifying the attention he's giving Max is platonic
- This inspires Tank to mention a special way Bradley acted around Tank to see if that was platonic or not (not overtly asking, but Brad gets the message. Maybe Brad embarrassingly admits to it)
- Bradley can play this game too and asks Tank about something specific about how he's acted with Brad and Tank inadvertently admits to that action being more than friendship as well
- In which they essentially end up confessing to each other
- Bradley wants to be sure and repeats what Tank has said back to him, to confirm he understands what Tank has said. "You mean when you look at me like that, it's that you're admiring my appearance?"
- Tank confirms: "I think you're beautiful, Bradley."
- Bradley is blushing and has his face in his hands, his eyes peeking out but not making eye contact with Tank (they're sitting across the table from one another).
- Tank goes on to compliment him on more specific terms. "Your hair is always soft and well-kept. It frames your face so nicely. Your eyes are such a pretty shade of blue, I love how they sparkle in the sun and light up when you're passionate about something. Your lips look so soft, I really want to kiss them -"
- Bradley cuts him off, his blush growing to an unmanageable level, and comes up with an excuse to change the subject. "We need to finish this homework!"
- Tank chuckles. "Alright, baby."
- The petname sounds so much different to him now.
(and then after studying they totally go back to their dorm and make out).