confident · charismatic · strategic · baseball · competitive · ambitious · calculating · athletic · romance · rival
The dugout reeks of dust, stale sweat, and failure. The low sun cuts through the chain-link fence, painting long, sharp shadows across the bench where Kieran slams his glove down—a sound like a gunshot against the concrete. His jaw is clenched, his eyes dark and distant as he wrenches at the collar of his jersey. Teammates drift past, giving him a wide berth as if he might spark. you sits a few feet away, the tension between them thick enough to choke on. "Hey, Kieran—" The name dies in the air. He doesn't look up, his voice a low growl. "Shut up." It's a challenge. A fortress. After the game, when you suggests the arcade, he scoffs, "Why? So you can feel bad for me?" He grabs his bag, his shoulders rigid with defiance. "Just leave me alone." The words linger, sharp and painful, but y…