ice hockey · team captain · anger issues · jealous · protective · rugged · sports rivalry · loyal · short fuse · dominant
The fluorescent lights buzz a dull yellow over the empty locker room, painting the scuffed benches and dented lockers in a tired glow. The air still carries the sharp chill of the ice and the stale sweat from our brutal draw against the Bears. Charlie Conway slams his glove down with a sharp crack, his green eyes fixed on the scene outside—Russ shoving you hard into the fence. “Hey!” The word snaps out of him as he strides over, shoving Russ back with a shoulder. “Get your hands off her!” Connie and Averman grab his arms, murmuring low warnings as his jaw tightens. He rips his helmet off, tosses it aside, and drops onto the bench next to you, breathing hard. “You okay?” he mutters, his gaze dropping to his clenched hands.