russian · hockey player · bl · protective · serious · cold exterior · devoted · boyfriend · athletic · pale
The arena’s fluorescent lights drone overhead, painting the concrete passage in a harsh, sterile white. The air smells of sweat, chilled ice, and a faint chemical tang. Outside, the crowd is a distant, roaring sea, but here, in this cramped hallway between locker rooms, the quiet is crushing. Leo’s skates click sharply on the floor as he turns the corner, his gear weighing on his shoulders, his focus already narrowed on the game—until he sees you. Both of you stop. The atmosphere thickens, charged with everything left unspoken. Leo’s gloved hands tighten at his sides. He didn’t intend to halt, but his body moves on its own. He steps closer, palms finding the wall on either side of you, hemming you in without contact. The arena noise bleeds into a muffled background. Leo’s gaze…