Treat you Better - Auston Matthews x Reader
Auston sees how Kasp treats you & thinks (and eventually proves ;)) that he can treat you better.
Totally made Kasperi a douche in this - sorry Kasp fans. Also, obvi set when they were both on the Leafs!
Two months, you've been keeping track - but of course would never tell Kasperi (you can imagine it now: "Why do I care how long we've been talking? It's not like we're dating, Y/N"). Two months of being a second choice. No chance of commitment anywhere in sight. But you stay, because Kas is charming and good-looking. You convince yourself maybe he'll change, maybe he just isn't ready for commitment right now. Of course he's not just messing with you - he wouldn't do that.
He invited you to his game. You thought maybe this was a sign that he truly cared for you. Would he invite you to watch him if he didn't actually like you? Or did he just want one more Kapanen fan in the building? You push that second thought out of your head as quick as it comes.
Well, obviously he would just invite people to invite people, because here you sit watching him chat up two blonde girls who are very giddy to be graced by Kasperi Kapanen's presence.
The game was nerve-racking, ending with a 5-4 Leaf's win. You were excited to wait outside of the Leaf's locker room. You felt like a true NHL girlfriend. Well, you did, until Kas passed you with a nod (what am I, some fan waiting for a high-five?!) and headed straight for the two pretty girls also standing outside the lockeroom, clearly waiting for any NHL player to pay attention to them - hell, maybe even a gear manager if they were wearing a Leaf's shirt.
So, here you sit, waiting for Kasperi to decide that the girl he invited to watch him play - the one who dutifully cheered for every good play of his and only secretly cheered for one of the other good-looking men in blue - was worth his attention after all. You had even denied a ride home from your friends because "I'll just ride home with Kas". How stupid you felt now...
Kasperi is always a good time when you hang out. He's funny and charming. But this is your first time being in public with him - or, rather, in public watching him act like you're not with him.
You're growing angrier and angrier as Kas makes these girls giggle. Luckily, a good-looking distraction with wet hair steps out of the lockeroom. He looks set on leaving the building ASAP, until he locks eyes with you.
"Hey," he says with a smile, approaching you. You scan his face and sense that he's wondering who you are - why you're waiting. Which player you belong to, you think sourly.
"Hi" you smile politely. There's a pause, so you introduce yourself. "I'm Y/N".
"Y/N," he repeats, "I'm Auston." He sticks his hand out for a shake.
"I know" you giggle, shaking his hand. A dagger of a thought (so Kasperi hasn't mentioned you... ouch) flashes in your mind, but you try to ignore it for now.
"What ya doin out here?" he asks, nodding to the emptying hallway.
"Oh.. Kasperi invited me" you say, moving your gaze over to him. A third girl has joined his audience.
Auston looks over and sees the same thing you do. He nods slowly and moves his attention back to you.
"Gotcha... he doesn't know how to treat a guest does he?" he laughs awkwardly.
"No, it looks like he's pretty good at it" you say, smiling pityingly, nodding towards his group of female fans.
After watching for a second, Auston yells, "Kasp!" he pauses as Kasperi snaps his head in your guys' direction. "You done?"
You're a bit embarrassed, but grateful that you didn't have to be the one to break him from his conversation. Kasperi's eyes switch between you and Auston. Without saying anything, he walks towards the two of you, like a kid in trouble.
"Now I am" he says to Auston, before putting an arm around your shoulders and heading towards the door.
You look back and send Auston a smile. He smiles back with a small wave.
"You played good", you say to Kas, hoping to pretend whatever just happened for the last 20 minutes didn't actually happen.
"Yeah, thanks. Thanks for coming", he says as you both walk towards his car.
The car ride is awkward. Or, maybe, you imagine it as awkward. Kas seems just fine.
He takes you back to his place, as he always does. You sit on his couch, as you always do. The two of you haven't gotten any more intimate than a few kisses - you were adamant that you wanted to wait. He was similarly adamant that he didn't want to. Either way, you both sit on the couch, watching some movie that he picked. He didn't try anything more than an arm around your shoulders for the whole night. Instead, actually, you felt like he was just waiting for you to leave. Does he have other plans for the night?
"Do you want me to come to your next game?" you ask.
"Yeah, sure, if you want to come." he says, not taking his eyes from the TV.
God, this night was painful. But, you told yourself, maybe it would get better.
--
This game-day will definitely end better. The last game fiasco is behind you. You even asked to wear his jersey - and he let you! That has to mean something.
Here you wait, again, outside of the lockeroom. They lost this time - 2-5. Despite the score, you are proud to be sporting "Kapanen" on your back.
Auston steps out of the lockeroom before Kasperi. He locks eyes with you, once again, and smiles.
"Hey, Y/N" he says, approaching you.
"Hi. You played good tonight", you say, returning his smile.
"Not good enough, though", he laughs lightly, pitifully.
Before you can respond, Kas walks out of the lockeroom. This time, he walks straight to you - not past you. Progress!
Auston moves aside so Kasp can join the conversation - and though you would never say it, you preferred the one-on-one with Auston.
"See ya got her to wear your jersey", Auston says to Kasperi with a smile.
"She asked," he says, putting an arm around you. "Dirtied it up just for us to lose". Your smile drops (did he not want me to wear it??). This doesn't go over Auston's head, though it definitely misses Kasperi.
"You can dirty up my jerseys anytime, Y/N", Auston says lightly, giving you a smile. Kasperi laughs and leads you out the door. Again, you shoot a smile to Auston as you leave. How is it that Auston's on your side more often than Kasperi is?
--
Third home game. You've decided this is his last chance. His games are the only times you go out in public together - otherwise, you're just hanging out at his house. He is always so fun to be around in private. But once he gets in public, it feels like his facade drops. So, third try. Third home game.
They win this time, 4-1. You had washed and returned Kasp's jersey after his comment last time. Standing outside the locker room, you wait. Kasperi comes out before Auston this time (am I waiting for Auston? Why was I disappointed when it was Kasp and not Auston?).
"The guys are going for drinks, I'm gonna go with 'em" he says casually.
You don't know what to say, so you just look at him for a second to see if he's serious. Where were you supposed to go? He should have said something earlier so you wouldn't have waited out here for him. Before you can put any of these thoughts into words, Auston steps out of the lockeroom. He catches Kasp's next words.
"I can call you an uber if you don't have a ride or something." Was this his attempt at kindness?
"Kasp.." you say, exasperatingly.
Auston interjects. "I can drive you home." he says looking between you and Kasperi.
"You don't have to do that, man", Kasperi speaks for you. This leaves you even more shocked.
Auston ignores him, eyes still on you.
"I'd really appreciate that", you say, looking back at him.
"See, Kasp, it's taken care of. Have fun, man", Auston says, slightly stepping between you and Kasperi.
"Alright", Kasperi says, clearly not interested enough to say anything more. "See you guys", he says before turning around and heading for the door.
"Thank you, Auston. I really appreciate it", you say, nervously, embarrassed that you even came here with Kasperi.
"I don't mind. I'm not putting you in an uber", he laughs.
You laugh with him at the absurdity.
You both head for the door. Walking next to him, you can really appreciate how large he is. You blush at the whole situation.
He points at a Porche sitting in the parking garage, shining in all of its' luxury, "That's me", he says, unlocking it.
"Fancy", you giggle as he opens the passenger door for you.
He laughs and shuts your door, tossing his gear in the backseat before getting in on his own side.
The car ride is filled with comfortable silence, the radio playing quietly, only interrupted by your directions.
"Really, thank you for taking me home, Auston", you say, glancing at him.
He looks at you for a second before returning his eyes to the road. "I really don't mind. It's nice to see you somewhere outside of a dark hallway, anyways", he says.
"Yeah, you won't see me there again", you say, still embarrassed by Kasperi. So much for a third chance.
"Or, y'know, next time you'll be wearing a 34", he says. You laugh.
"Wouldn't wanna dirty up one of your jerseys" you giggle, referring to Kasperi's odd comment.
"God, he's a douche, isn't he. I'm sorry", Auston says.
"Just glad I had my knight in shining armor there to save me," you joke.
"That's what I'm here for", he laughs.
He pulls up to your building. "Want me to walk you up?" he asks.
"It's okay," you answer, "I have mace" you joke.
At this, he scoffs jokingly and turns the car off before getting out. You do the same, walking to your building with Auston behind you. You climb the stairs and stop in front of your door.
"Thank you, Auston". You say, locking eyes with him.
"Of course, Y/N." he smiles.
"Can I get your number, just to make sure you make it home safe?" you say.
He pulls out his phone and adds your number, giving you his.
"Have a good night, Y/N".
"You too," you smile, unlocking the door. He heads back down to his car.
A much better ending to game night.
--
The next morning you wake to the doorbell ringing. In your shock at the unannounced guest, you climb out of bed and check out the peephole. Through it, you see a delivery driver setting down a large bag.
You wait for him to walk away before you open the door to check out this mysterious delivery. Setting it on the counter, you open it carefully.
In it is a container holding a huge breakfast - pancakes, bacon, and fruit. Under the container, a Maple Leafs jersey - number 34. Matthews written on the back. You smile big at this.
You grab your phone to send him a text.
"Auston!!" you say, sending a picture of the gift.
"For the next game ;)", he writes.