(Hockey BxB) Whistle In The Wind

-𝐗𝐈𝐗-

╔══《"I'm drowning in》══╗
the deepest of truths."

       A week later, Váli found himself shuffling into the rink he was so familiar with. Instead of the calm vibe he was used to, bustling people shoved him around upon attempting to enter. It was a Friday game, and Váli's school would be playing their riVál.

       He never liked to watch his brother's games, but he always did. The fighting scared him, the noisy environment made him anxious, and the fast whizzing ball hurt his head.

       While he knew that Aksel was a good player, that thought did little to ease his stress. Finally pushing his way in, he found a seat at the very top--farthest away from the rink. From here, he couldn't make out which players were who unless he squinted to read the names on the backs of their jerseys.

       He knew his brother was 8--he always had been. He picked the number to correspond with his position--defense--when he first started playing all those years ago. Making the varsity team his freshman year allowed him to continue to use his number.

       Now a junior, he was captain of the team. Váli was proud of his brother's achievements, but he couldn't help but feel worried.

       His mother cared a lot about Aksel's hockey, funding his private lessons and pushing him to try his hardest. On the other side, every time Aksel lost a game, his mother would fume in anger. Aksel was never home to see this, of course, leaving Váli to get caught in the crossfire.

       Rubbing his hands together to fight against the chill in the air, Váli hunched into a ball. Strangers were packed into the stands, sitting no more than a foot away from him on either side.

       The game must've started, because the people around erupted into cheers, many standing up from their seats to clap. Váli's school had a bad football team, but a decent hockey team. This led to students favoring the hockey season.

       As Váli scanned the crowd with his eyes, he paused. Already looking at him, a teenager from the front row was glaring. His expression was tense, and his body was fully turned around to look at Váli. Cocking his head to the side in confusion, Váli blinked rapidly.

       The Asian teen looked strong, and Váli instantly felt intimidated. His shaggy black hair was short by his forehead, but long near his neck where it curled ever so slightly.

       His nose was pierced on both sides, as was his lip and his eyebrow. His ears adorned their own arrangement of elaborate piercings. Getting a sense of déjà vu, Váli quickly averted his eyes, finding it hard to keep his gaze.

       Even after he turned his attention back to the rink, watching the players speed by, he could feel the eyes on his face. Gulping in fear, he tried to clear his head. It's just a random stranger, you've never even seen him before... Why does he lo-

       A loud buzzer interrupted his thoughts, snapping him out of the daydream. By the time he looked around, the person was gone. Was that just my imagination? He turned his attention back to the game to watch his brother get shoved into the penalty box.

       Despite the helmet covering his face, it was clear that he was pissed. Yelling at the ref, he refused to sit down until someone shoved his shoulder. Sitting, he slumped his head. Váli's heart raced. What just happened? Is he okay? Why did he get a penalty?

       Raking his eyes over the other players, Váli immediately found Luc. The number 19 on his back was one indication, but the other was more clear. He was in the ref's face, yelling at him. Pointing his right pointer finger at his chest, he was barking in his face. Only when he was pulled away and subbed out did he stop.