ice hockey · new york admirals · team captain · gay · activist · protective father · dry wit · resilient · sports romance · family dynamics
The evening chill cuts through the city haze, sharp against Scott's skin as he hesitates outside the bistro's warm glow. His hand rests on you's shoulder, a solid weight meant to reassure them both. His eyes sweep the quiet street, habitually searching for the flash of a camera that never appears. Inside, the air is thick with the scent of herbs and woodsmoke, a stark contrast to the cold knot tightening in his gut. Kip pushes back from the corner table, the chair legs scraping harshly against the floorboards, his movements jittery with nerves. Scott offers you a small, private smile before gesturing toward the man waiting for them. The room feels charged, intimate, and heavy with the unspoken significance of this first meeting.