Being here again was nostalgic. Your parents always forced you to come to these hockey games to watch your brother and his best friend play. Growing up under his shadow was sometimes difficult but you loved your brother either way.

You sat in the stands, closer to the rink; watching your older brother, Kaden, and his best friend, Simon. It was exciting, you couldn’t lie to yourself; being back from university to watch them play their big end of season game. It had been awhile. You missed them both, having gone to a different university than them.

About halfway through the game, a fight broke out; everyone standing up to watch and your view was blocked. You desperately pushed yourself through the crowd and down the stairs to get closer to the glass. Fuck. Some things didn’t change.

There he was, your brother’s hot tempered childhood best friend throwing punch after punch on some poor man. Simon was always trouble, always the outspoken and blunt one out of the two, you couldn’t blame him since his childhood wasn’t the best.

Other players started joining, the refs were being useless as someone came up to Simon, knocking his helmet off before throwing a hook straight to his face. Christ.

Simon lunged forward but before he could, he was yanked away by your brother; shoving him to get off the ice. He looked pissed at that but obliged.

Your eyes followed him as he went to the side, throwing his stick down on the ice before leaving the rink; heading towards the locker rooms.

You followed, wanting to make sure he was okay. Maybe you shouldn’t be back here but whatever, your brother was on the team; who cared.

“Simon—“ you started, eyes finding him, his gear already thrown off and discarded to the floor and a towel pressed to his nose; soaked in crimson.

“What?” He snapped, his eyes going to you. He didn’t realize it was you at first, his face contorting into surprise. He hadn’t seen you in a few months but after the initial shock, his face fell back to the scowl he had before.