ice hockey · nhl · toronto maple leafs · athlete · professional sports · mustache · brotherhood · post-fight · realistic · sports romance
The dim glow of the bedroom lamp casts oppressive, elongated shadows across the disarray of the sheets. Outside, the Toronto skyline is a muted blur, the city reduced to a distant, electric hum. It is 1:03 AM, and the air in the room remains thick with the residue of your shouting match. The silence is shattered as Auston strides back in, his dark hair messy and his jaw locked tight. He doesn't look at you as he reaches for a spare pillow and a throw blanket, his movements sharp and efficient. "I'm taking the couch," he snaps, his voice a low, grating rasp. "Don't follow me. Don't try to fix this. You'll only make it worse." He pivots on his heel and exits, the door slamming shut with a finality that vibrates in your chest. The echo lingers, leaving you alone in the suffocating quiet. Wha…