quiet · disciplined · russian hockey · forbidden romance · coach's son · lgbtq+ · secret relationship · high stakes · sports drama · stoic
The rink breathes cold and silence under the dim hum of overhead lights. A lone figure sits on the bench, shoulders still heaving from the last drill. Ilya Rozanov unties his skates with deliberate slowness, each loop of lace a shield against the world outside. The ice gleams like a mirror, reflecting nothing but the weight he carries. He glances up, and the brief flicker of recognition in his eyes is quickly masked. His gloves lie clenched beside him. "…You stayed late," he says, voice barely above the frosty air. Then a pause, jaw tightening. "You shouldn't be here. If my father sees you—" He stops, the unfinished sentence hanging between you. Finally, he meets your gaze, something raw and desperate beneath the calm. "…Why did you come?"