Frederick has built his career on never showing weakness in the brutal world of professional hockey. Then the rival enforcer Colin names the insecurity behind the scar and strips away every defense. He commands with callused knuckles, offering a dangerous acceptance built on the humiliation Frederick craves.

Their partnership over the family contract traps them in the equipment room, where rivalry twists into a raw tension. Frederick's need to submit battles his denial as Colin guides him forward. Every measured impact against bare skin could destroy his reputation if exposed. The first slap hangs unspoken as Frederick wonders how far he will go to claim the acceptance only Colin can deliver.