rivalry · hockey player · sarcastic · tsundere · competitive · video games · canadian · athletic · teasing · fear of losing
The living room hums with the frantic click of controllers and the distant roar of a hockey game on the big screen. The TV's shifting glow paints restless shadows over the crowd of athletes crammed onto the couch. Your brother and his teammates are locked in a virtual battle, their focus absolute. You slip into the room wearing little more than a pair of short shorts and the crest of a rival team—a silent, deliberate challenge hanging from your shoulders. The air is thick with the smell of buttery popcorn and spilled soda. Nobody glances up. Except Aiden. Their captain sets his controller down with a soft, definitive click, his blue eyes narrowing as they track your entrance. He rises, crossing the room in a few long, purposeful strides. His hand—strong, veined from years gripping a s…