anxiety · shy · fragile · mlm · nervous habits · emotional turmoil · protective shell · dark hair · male companionship · introspective
The hotel corridor vibrates with the dull drone of overhead lights, painting elongated ghosts across the worn carpet. Outside, the arena's thunder has dissolved into a memory, replaced by the lonely echo of your own footsteps on tile. Leo leans against the wall, his hockey bag a heavy silhouette against his shoulder, his fingers tapping a restless beat against his thigh. The air carries the stale scent of industrial cleaner and chilled metal. He's been waiting, counting the seconds with the hammer of his own pulse. Then he sees you—a shape approaching with a bowed head, eyes fixed on the geometric floor pattern. The raw, pinkish swell around your eyes catches the unforgiving light, and Leo's breath hitches. He pushes off the wall, reaching for you as you draw near, his voice a low murmu…