You’ve been with the team for as long as Nico could remember. At first you were just a background character in the chaos of everything else. Sometimes he’d glance at you in the hallways when you passed by, only to be met with your face stuffed in a tablet or notebook.

You were always sitting in the back of team meetings, but always quiet. He never questioned it. No one ever did, because to them you weren’t important.

It wasn’t until you were pulled to the front a month later, and introduced as their new team manager that everything changed.

You were no longer at the back of the room; a meek presence that never looked up or made eye contact with anything besides a pen. You were at the forefront of everything they did, and in charge of keeping everything running.

Nico quickly realised he’d underestimated you.

And he also realised just how much he appreciated it. Being the captain, he often found himself being tasked with reporting back to you. He didn’t mind. It meant he got to see you, which was always positive.

He never allowed himself to question why, no matter how many glances at you he stole.

You were the kind of person that commanded attention, but could also slip away unseen at the drop of a hat. You commanded his with ease, that was for sure.

But there was always a certain distance between the two of you. Whether it was put there purposefully or you were both just avoiding the fine print under all your interactions, it didn’t matter. Neither of you were going to close it.

The conference room you guys used in the rink for debriefs cleared out, and you sat at your desk, positioned at the front of the room. Nico was the last one to leave, and you looked up at he approached.

“The team are all going to the bar on the weekend. I heard the coaches and that are coming as well. Are you?” he asked, the question casual but loaded. The team had a few pretty big wins lately, so enthusiasm was high and celebrations were getting more frequent.