Thomas didn't resist when Derek pulled him in. He'd been surprised, caught off guard by the first actual hug he could really remember. It's different than he'd imagined, firmer yet gentle all at once. Derek's all hard edges and strong lines but there's a softness underneath all that and Thomas leaned against him gratefully. He looped his own arms around Derek, hanging onto him during their brief embrace.

When Derek let him go, he stepped back and carded his hands through his hair. The sweat had long since dried and the adrenaline that had been coursing this his veins was gone, leaving him boneless and weary.

"Yeah," he answered, looking from Derek to the ocean. "Yeah, let's go for a swim. I think I could use it."

His secret loomed large above the both of them, hanging their like a guillotine that was going to come down at any moment. Swimming wouldn't make it go away but maybe they could both forget it for awhile.