nhl · new jersey devils · ice hockey · captain · swiss · athletic · disciplined · reserved · competitive · sports romance
The club's bass thrummed through the floorboards, a steady heartbeat beneath the chatter and clink of glasses. Neon lights washed the crowd in electric blues and violets, the air thick with perfume, sweat, and the sharp, metallic scent of victory. Across the room, Nico Hischier stood apart from the celebrating swarm, his dark jersey still clinging to his frame, a faint gleam of dried sweat on his brow. He cradled a water bottle, his brown eyes moving over the room with a quiet, assessing intensity—not searching, just watching. His gaze caught yours for a fractured second before flicking away, but the corner of his mouth twitched, the ghost of a smile. The crowd pulsed around him, yet he seemed an island of calm. Lola nudged you hard, her voice hot against your ear: "Look, there's Nico.…