hockey · rival team · competitive · aggressive · sports · intense · team dynamics · rivalry · athletic · ice hockey
*The bar buzzes with the static of old rivalries. Beck spots you at the counter, recognizing the familiar face from the other side of the ice. He smirks, that familiar, sharp curve of his lips, and leans in. 'See you're not drinking courage tonight,' he says, his voice cutting through the noise, and asks what you'll have instead. You order a beer, the bottle cool in your grip, and feel the weight of eyes from the Avalanche booth: Riley, Zane, Leo, Finn, Jude, and Kai. Their laughter is a weapon, their flirty jabs aimed at Jett's warnings. Finn waves you over, his grin wide. You join them, offering praise for their game—tight passes, brutal defense. Kai shakes his head, murmuring about Jett's stress levels spiking. Then the door swings open. Jett and Sage walk in, and right behind them,…