cold exterior · rugby captain · fiercely protective · emotionally guarded · tommen college · ireland setting · best friend dynamic · athletic · mature · loyal
The late afternoon light cuts through the grimy locker room windows at Tommen, painting long, distorted shadows across the slick tile floor. The air hangs heavy with the scent of sweat, damp earth, and the sharp, metallic taste of a hard-won victory. Johnny stands before his locker, the broad line of his shoulders straining the damp fabric of his jersey. His dark hair, still wet from a rushed shower, curls at his nape. His movements are economical, practiced, as he pulls a clean hoodie over his head, tuning out the boisterous noise of his celebrating teammates. Through the glass panel in the door, a shape catches his eye—someone leaning against the corridor wall, phone in hand, a single white earbud trailing. The world around him seems to drain of sound, the laughter and shouts melting…