Work Text:
If there was one thing in the world that Dean hated more than students skipping swim practice, it was Midnight Light. Midnight Light was a tradition at his university on the day before the first day of school after summer break. They would hang lights all over the courtyard and pop fireworks to celebrate the beginning of a new year. It was mostly full of wide-eyed freshman barely starting college but that wasn't the reason he dreaded going every year, no, it was the dunk tank.
Ever since his second year when he was appointed swim captain, it became his task as their leader to fall victim to every freshman with good aim as he fell into the cold, cold water below. And of course, for the eyes of the many passerby's, he had to be shirtless all while doing it. No matter how many times he had tried to get someone else to do it, to force Win or even a random first year to take his place, he had always ended up getting the short end of the stick. This year was no different as he sat atop of the metal seat, his toes grazing the waters surface.
"Looking pretty cozy up there, captain." Dean heard from behind him as he rolled his eyes at the blond strolling towards the tank.
"Fuck you, Win."
With a smirk, Win strolled to the red target, his hand hovering over the circle as he quirked an eyebrow at his best friend. "What was that, again?"
"Don't you dare or it's 50 butterfly strokes at next practice." Dean threatened as he gripped onto the seat below him, a lingering feeling that Win didn't gave a damn about any punishment and that he was gonna do it anyway.
"Oh, don't worry." Win took his hand away from the target. "There will be plenty of time for you to get dunked later."
Dean internally cheered, praising the gods that his best friend wasn't that much of an ass until Win threw his hand back, his fist smashing against the plate as Dean let out a shriek, the water splashing against the walls around him.
"But I couldn't let a chance like this go to waste." Win spoke as he turned his back, walking towards the crowd that was forming at the entrance.
"Make that 100 butterfly strokes!" Dean yelled as he crawled back onto the seat and tried to generate any warmth his body could muster. God, he really hated Midnight Light.
Dean had lost count of how many times he had met the freezing water, his body gone numb from feeling and his ears ringing every time the buzzer sounded indicating that, yes, someone did in fact hit the target once again.
He clambers onto the soaked seat, a headache beginning to form as he closes his eyes trying to find any semblance of peace he can hold on to.
"My turn!" A voice speaks and Dean stifles a groan, his fists clenching before he finally opens his eyes and he stills.
Before him is a boy, most likely a freshman since Dean had never seen him before because he had never once laid eyes on a person so breathtakingly beautiful. He must be staring because the rosiest blush falls upon the boys cheeks but Dean can't find it in himself to stop. He wouldn't mind if he was dunked a million times as long as it was him doing it.
"Take your best shot." Win speaks as he hands him the ball and for the first time that night, Dean smiles.
His smile grows even wider when the boy gives him a smile of his own and Dean feels butterflies in the pit of his stomach. He draws his arm back, squinting as he eyes the target and Dean prepares for the fall but it never comes. The buzzer never rings and the crowd starts to chatter around the boy who stands stock still, his arm still raised as if waiting to throw.
"You can throw now." Win reminds him and he nods, his arm drawing back further only to still once again.
A litany of groans erupt in the crowd as Dean suddenly realizes what he's trying to do. He's stalling.
"If you're not gonna throw, get out of line." Someone from behind him speaks and Dean glares daggers at the student who dared to raise their voice to this precious human before them.
The boy rolls his eyes before finally throwing the ball only to miss tremendously, the ball going past the target and rolling out of sight.
"Dang, can I go again?" He asks before a pop shoots through the sky and everyone turns to the burst of color across the night atmosphere. The crowd all but runs to the attraction, Dean looking back down to find everyone gone except for him.
"Thank you." Dean comments as he climbs out of the contraption, the boy going over to hand him the towel hanging by the tank.
"For what? I just have really bad aim." He says with another blinding smile and Dean has officially fallen in love.
"My name's Dean by the way."
"Pharm."
Dean holds his tongue from making a joke about how such a beautiful name fits such a beautiful boy so perfectly as he gestures to the crowd and they start to walk.
"Is this your first year?" Dean questions as he wraps the towel around his frame, his eyes never leaving the younger as he nods in response.
"I just moved here actually, so I thought I'd see the campus a bit before school started."
"Well if you ever need help with anything, I'd be glad to help. I owe you for what you did for me back there."
Pharm shakes his head, his hands waving him off as they finally reach their destination. "Don't worry about that, I was just glad to help." He speaks before his attention averts to the fireworks as he watches in awe and Dean can't breathe.
"It's beautiful." Pharm whispers, Dean gazing at the way the colors in the sky dance in the youngers eyes and he finds that he agrees. "Yeah, it's beautiful."
Pharm looks back to Dean, a blush finding his cheeks as he realizes what he had meant and he looks back to the sky.
"You know, this reminds me of a poem I once read," Dean speaks, "All my life, I've only known darkness. It seeped into my bones and created a home until it and I became one. And then I gazed into your eyes and realized that it was okay bec-"
"Because without my darkness the world would've never known your light." Pharm finishes and for the second time that day, Dean finds himself still.
"I know it is way too early to be saying this but I think I'm in love with you."
Pharm shakes his head as he giggles at the olders comment. "It might be a little too early for love, but I would like to get to know you more, P'Dean." He says and Dean had never heard a sound more beautiful than the way Pharm says his name.
"I think I'd like that very much." Dean responds as he finally looks at the fireworks and comes to a single conclusion.
Dean absolutely loved Midnight Light.