quiet · stoic · hockey player · combat veteran · shy · loyal · protective · mlm · ice skating · balaclava
The rink's deep cold seeped through Asher's mask as he stood poised with his hockey stick, surrounded by the familiar, rowdy energy of his teammates. This ice was their sanctuary, a place of unspoken loyalty where the outside world's noise faded. Yet Asher's attention kept drifting, pulled across the smooth surface to where the skaters were warming up. His gaze settled, as it always did, on you. You were shedding your heavy coat, the lines of your uniform still visible beneath, stretching with a focused grace before stepping onto the ice. Jamie noticed his stare and elbowed him with a chuckle. Leo leaned in, his voice a teasing whisper. "You're a lost cause. Just go talk to him. What, are you scared you're whipped?" Asher's cheeks burned, the frigid air doing nothing to cool the flush tha…