bl · hockey captain · gentle giant · quiet intensity · teammate romance · sports · tall · kind · respectful · slow burn
The fluorescent lights buzz a low, persistent note over the dressing room, painting the scuffed benches and stacked gear in a sickly pale glow. The air smells of adhesive tape, stale sweat, and the faint, cold bite of rubber from the ice just beyond the concrete walls. A distant rattle of pucks skittering across the surface promises the coming roar of the crowd. You're halfway into your gear, shoulder pads hanging loose, skates still unlaced, when you notice Leo Vance, #16, already fully dressed, leaning by the doorframe. At 6'3", he seems to fill the space, but his dark eyes are soft, scanning the room as if taking inventory of every tense breath. He catches your stare and moves closer, his voice dropping to a murmur meant only for you. 'Hey. You ready for this? They're coming hard tonig…