OKAY Heyyyyyyy, Here are me and my pookie's (@myronanempire) Hockey OCs. We got super obsessed with HR and decided that we needed our own universe because real hockey is........yeah.
Warning for Homophobia and Slur usage (coming from a asshole throwaway character).
The middle of the season games always seemed to drag on. Roadies even more so as the repeated flights to games to practice was exhausting. Currently the New York Seals were playing against the Montréal Bears, a brutal and aggressive game. The Seals had been having a great run, currently second seat and with a win streak of two games.
Leopold Hoffmann felt pretty good about his first year on the seals, with a consistent goals and assists. It had been an adjustment coming from Germany to the United States, two totally different worlds. Hockey however had largely stayed the same.
Stick to puck, shot to the right top shelf.
The goal buzzer rings out throughout the rink. Cheers joined by boos of Montréal fans echoed around the arena. A body slams into him, shaking his shoulder in celebration. Keaton Lindell beams at him through his visor as he shouts over cheers, "Great shot rook!"
Leo gives him a small shy smile back, "Thanks Cap."
The older player nods, pats his helmet and skates off. Leo follows as they reset. He crouches down for faceoff. Across from him is Herman Smith, one of the centers for Montréal. His face is angry and there is an ugly smirk on his chapped lips. "Hey Hoffmann. Nice goal"
Leo didn't like his tone, it sounded like his father's venomous bite, moments before pain. He grits his teeth, "Thanks". Short and sweet.
Smith's smirk widens, "Of course, even a fairy can get a good goal every once and awhile".
Leo's face dropped, eyes angry as he spit out, "Fuck you Smith".
"Oh did I hurt your feelings? I didn't know Germans had those. Toughen up kid" Smith growled at him then wisely shut up as the ref came closer. Within seconds the puck is dropped and Leo wins the face off. He passes to Keaton as they enter Bears ice. Jesper Englund takes the puck next, dodging a defenseman and sending the puck back to Leopold. He has it for barely a second before he gets slammed into the boards.
The wind is knocked out of him as he hits the plexiglass. He hits the ice just as hard with a groan. A body piles on top of him, shoving his helmet into the ice again, "Fuck you Fag".
A gloveless hand roughly grabs the Bears player off Leo, dragging him onto his skates, "What the fuck did you just say?!"
Matthew Moore's voice was livid.
Keaton helps Leo up onto his skates, "Okay kid?"
Leo nods and goes to respond but yells then loud cheers from the crowd interrupt him. He looks over in time to see Matthew's fist collide with Smiths jaw. He looks furious and uncaring that Smith just busted his lip. "Say that again you fucker!" Matt's shout is followed by another punch as the men fall to the ice, punches landing over and over, an equal exchange of violence. A ref pulls Matthew off of Smith while the Bear's Captain grabs Smith. Keaton, who had finally let go of Leo, cursed and skated over, taking the young defenseman from the referee.
Leo follows the captain, his hand without a stick resting on Matthew's bicep. Blood ran down from his split lip and a black eye is already blooming. He still looks pissed. Keaton looks pissed, "Matt the fuck?"
Matthew practically snarls, "Fucker needs to shut his mouth"
Keaton shakes his head but says nothing. The ref skates to center ice, "Five minute major for fighting, fifty four and twenty."
Leopold squeezes Matt's bicep as he skates off to the bench and Matt skates to the box.
The locker room is loud with excitement, the final game score of five to one. Leo made two of those. After the first goal and the Bears seemed to lock on to the rookie center. It had only gotten worse when Leo scored a second goal in the middle of the second. His body arched and the bruises blooming under his jersey. He pulls off the offending clothing and winced, an ugly stick slash across his back.
Keaton let a hiss out, "Yikes rook, you okay?"
Leo just gives a small smile and a nod while he sits down on the bench. He lets the sounds of the room flow ever him as he begins to take his gear off. Everything packed carefully into his duffel. The coach came in, talking about the strengths and weaknesses of the game and a quick reminder of when to meet the next afternoon in the hotel lobby. Leo didn't even realize someone had sat down next to him until a hand cupped the back of his neck. He blinked and turned his head. Matthew gives him a look, "Leo?"
The German shakes his head and finishes putting his skates away but doesn't push the hand off his neck. The touch grounding. Alex Raymond, one of the Seals defensemen, yells towards the pair, "Hurry up boys! We're going drinking!"
Matthew smiles at the loud man and stands. He squeezed the back of Leo's neck before letting go and standing. "Jesus Ray, that ready to get wasted?"
Alex laughs and throws a towel at the man. Matt lets it hit his chest then grabs it from the ground then tosses it into the hamper. He walks back to his gear and shoves things roughly into the bag, uncaring of the order. The team finished up showers and packing their supplies and finally funneled out. Gear was put in the team transport to be taken to the airport tomorrow afternoon and the men were dismissed for the night. With the freedom from coach and the distribution of hotel keys half of the team headed towards a bar nearby the hotel.
The bar seemed to be closer to a nightclub, bright lights of pink and blue flashing and loud edm music. Bodies pressed together tightly, grinding and dancing with drinks in hands. The team dispersed into the crowd, some going to get drinks, some going straight to the dance floor. Leo pulls his jacket closed, the warm bodies too close and the music too loud. Sticking to the edges of the crowd Leo moves through and finds a corner table free from people. He sits down and lets his head hit the back of the chair lightly. It ached from hitting the ice earlier that evening. His ribs ached and every breath was painful. Medical had cleared him but the bruising would persist for days.
The team going drinking normally was fun. Having friends here in the United States had seemed like an impossible task but the Seals made it easy. Some nights however the buzzing became to loud and Leo felt the cold come back. He sat and watched his teammates in a haze. Sometimes his brain seemed to freeze over, motions slowing. Leo blinked for what felt like a minute but when he opened them back up the lights were a new color and a concerned Keaton Lindell was sliding into the booth. The older man had a beer in one hand and a glass of water in the other. He pushes it over to Leo with a look. The rookie takes it, the cold of the glass feeling almost warm to the touch.
Leo had always been cold. Cheeks red and fingers numb. Nights where his brain froze were worse. He felt trapped under the ice, fist unable to break through as the water pours into his heaving lungs until Leo sinks to the bottom. His hand picks the glass up and he takes a sip. It tasted metallic. Momentarily he was back on the ice, a stick poking in between his ribs, a hand forcing his head into the ice, and the violence spreading around him. Leo forces himself to swallow the water before the glass is set back down. Keaton's frown increased, "Don't feel like celebrating tonight rook".
Leo gives a half hearted shrug, looking away from the concerned stare down to his hands. He pulled his hoodie sleeves over his fingertips, hoping to hide the tremble from his captain. The pair sit in silence for awhile, Keaton drinking his beer and Leo pretending to sip the water. When Keaton finished off the beer he stood, "You going to be okay kid?"
Leo takes a second to respond, brain frosty, "Of course Captain."
Keaton takes a long look at him but ultimately nods choosing not to push him. The man moves back into the crowd soon lost from Leo's sight. The German looks down at the table, watching the ice move slowly in the glass. There's a vibration that startles him from his travel back into dissociation. He pulls out his phone from the hoodie pocket and opens it. The screen an unsettling brightness that makes his eyes burn. There is a text message from Matthew sent moments before.
Leo sends the final response, too out of it to respond in english. Time passes both slowly and far to fast because soon a tall young man is coming up to the table. Matthew's eyes don't hid his concern. "Uber's here Leo" Sentence simple and said slowly, already knowing Leo didn't have the energy for a full conversation.
He slides out of the booth and tries and fails to hide the swaying as he stands. Matthew puts a hand on his elbow, "One foot in front of the other baby."
The pet name was a newer addition to their relationship. The pair had been inseparable since being recruited to the Seals, first becoming close, best friends which quickly tumbled into a partnership. Matthew guides them through the crowd, only nodding at Keaton before slipping out into the night. The uber is at the front and the boys slip inside, Matt not letting go of Leo's arm once.
The hotel lobby was empty besides the receptionist sitting behind the check in desk. Coach had given them hotel keys before letting them leave the rink. Matthew nods to the lady at the desk and continues on towards the elevator. They enter the yellowing lit box, pressed close. Matthew presses the sixth floor button and the doors slide shut. As soon as it does all strings holding Leo up snap and he slumps into his partners body. Matthew frowns but puts an arm around Leo's waist, taking some of his weight.
The elevator doors open and both walk down the hall until getting to their hotel door. Matthew slides the keycard into the lock and pushes it open. Their overnight bags had been dropped off earlier and are sat near the two queen beds. Leo separates from Matt to fall face first onto the closest bed. The german lets out a long sigh, takes a deep breath, then rolls over onto his back with a wince. He stares at the ceiling, counting the bumps in the plaster.
Matthew comes to the edge of the bed, concern shining in his bruise covered face. Leo takes in the black eye, the split lip, the redness that blooms over his cheekbone. Sorry is spilling over his own lips before his brain can catch himself. Matt's frown deepens and he sits down next to where Leo is laying down. "Leo" Matthew's voice is soft. He picks up one of Leo's hands and pressed a gentle kiss to his palm. Leo offers him a small smile at his partners antics. "What do you need baby?"
Leo lets out a hum, letting his head rest against Matthew's thigh. They sit in the silence for a few minutes before he speaks. "I don't know Mattie" his voice cracks at the end, tumbling over Matthew's name.
"Oh babe." Matt says before he leans down and presses their foreheads together, mindful of their injuries. Leo pushes back against Matt, finally connecting their lips. The kiss is soft and filled with an understanding words can't express. They had talked at length about Leo's dissociation episodes after the first one Matt witnessed. The loudness and the cold. Sometimes it was easier to show then to talk. Leo pulls away and presses his cheek to Matthew's cheek and just breaths. The other man wraps him in a warm embrace, loose enough not to be restrictive but close enough to ground him.
They both sit intertwined for ages, no words being spoken and little kisses peppered to Leo's face. When Leo does speak again his voice is less shaky. "Can we go to bed Mattie? Bitte, mein Schatz?"
Matthew responds with a kiss to Leo's nose, "Course baby, You deserve a long relaxing sleep after the beating you took tonight."
Leo frowns at the reminder, the game weighing heavy in his thoughts, "Is your face okay?" his eyes moving to the large bruise taking up Matt's cheek. His boyfriend smirks back, face looking smug.
"Never been better Hoffy, I wish I could have broke his fucking jaw."
That breaks the tension in Leo's shoulders and a grin spreads across his face. He lays his head down against Matt's shoulder, "Oh? and get ejected from the game?"
"Maybe the fucker shouldn't be such a fucking homophobe if he wants to keep the ability to chew."
Leo bursts into laughs which falls into a wince at the throbbing of his head, he stifles his laughter and just smiles. He takes a deep breath and then presses a kiss to Mattie's shoulder. Matt brushes a hand through Leo's hair and leans into him even more. The german looks up to him then moves, a hand coming up to cup Matthew's cheek and he brings in the other man into a kiss. It's quick, soft, and full of Leo's gratitude.
Matt breaks the kiss after a moment and says, "Go to sleep sweetheart". His voice a gentle mutter as Leo's eyes slide shut, the crash Matt knew was coming finally taking hold. His body relaxed in the other mans arms as he feels his consciousness slip away.
