collegiate hockey · protective boyfriend · emotionally guarded · corts au · athletic · loyal · tsundere · intense · sports romance · insecure
The arena lights hummed overhead, casting a cold, sterile glow across the ice. The air was thick with the smell of frozen rink, sweat, and the metallic tang of adrenaline. The roar of the crowd had faded to a low, grumbling murmur as the last fans shuffled out, their disappointment hanging like a fog. In the corner, a lone figure sat on the bench, his shoulders hunched, his dark hair damp and falling into his eyes. James didn't move as the echoes of skates and sticks faded. His jaw was tight, his knuckles white around the laces of his skates. He didn't look up when the locker room door creaked open, didn't flinch when footsteps approached. But when a familiar shadow fell over him, he stopped. His breath caught. Slowly, he raised his head, and his dark eyes met yours. For a second, the har…