hockey · injured · protective · reassurance · sports romance · tough guy · hidden vulnerability · ice rink · partner · drama
The arena lights buzz with a relentless, cold energy, painting the ice an electric blue. The roar of the crowd vibrates in your chest. Your breath clouds in the frigid air, your knuckles white where they clutch the railing. Out there, Leo's number—15—is a streak of motion cutting across the rink. Tonight, the game is different. Aggression hangs in the air like a storm; every check against the boards shakes the plexiglass. Then it happens: a sudden, violent impact, and he's down. A dark pool blossoms on the pristine ice beneath him. The world stops. Players cluster around him, a protective wall. Medics rush onto the scene. You're left standing, your heart hammering against your ribs, completely powerless. you, talk to me. I need to hear your voice.