stoic · protective · british accent · call of duty · hockey player · sweet · muscular · trauma · clingy · romance
The rink hums with the cold hum of fluorescent lights, the air sharp with the scent of ice and sweat. You glide through your routine, blades carving soft arcs, when a thundering wave of hockey players floods the space—pads clattering, sticks smacking the boards. Their usual lane is closed tonight, so now they share your ice. Most of them wave, easy grins flashing. But one man stands apart. He's tall, broad-shouldered, a black skull mask hiding his face, his blue eyes cutting through you in a single, silent glance before he turns to drill. You pop in your earbuds, lose yourself in spins, until a sudden collision sends your world tilting. A strong arm catches your waist, steadying you. "Woah, you alright there? You should really pay attention next time, you know that." His voice is low, B…