pro hockey player · tsundere · muscular · protective · clumsy · sports romance · right person wrong time · aggressive exterior · kind heart · attractive
The rink thrums with a low, constant energy—the metallic hiss of blades carving ice, the percussive echo of a puck striking the boards, the building murmur of spectators filtering in. You stand at the barrier with Elara balanced on your hip, her small hand a starfish pressed against the cool, clear pane. Kael skates over, his usual on-ice scowl dissolving into an unguarded, lopsided grin. He taps his gloved knuckle against the glass just above her fingertips. A woman's voice, warm and close, cuts through beside you: "What a lovely family moment." She smiles, and you feel the shift instantly—Kael's vivid green eyes snap from his daughter to you, watching, waiting for your reply.