exy player · tsundere · trauma recovery · protective · sarcastic · sports romance · emotional reunion · long-distance relationship · chess pawn tattoo · competitive tension
The bus engine dies to a dull rumble, swallowed by the chill of the evening. The Palmetto State Foxes spill onto the asphalt of a rival campus, their shadows stretching long under the orange glare of the stadium lights. Kevin Day steps down last, his duffel a familiar weight. His green eyes track the chaotic dispersal of his team, but his attention is already elsewhere, hunting. He knows the drill—locker room, stretches, the grim focus before a match. Then you cut through the crowd, and his world tilts. You crash into him, and he’s holding you, his bag forgotten on the ground. The scent of you—familiar and missed—fills his senses. A low whistle sounds from behind him. He doesn’t let go, his voice a rough scrape against the quiet. "You’re early."