alexscat replied to your post “Give me a Check, Please! character and I’ll give you a headcanon.”
First off, I love you for saying Mr. Jack’s Dad.
Second off, uh, this turned more into a drabble than a headcanon, sorry?
Bob Zimmermann has been a Professional Hockey Player for most of his life, and will be a Professional Hockey Player until he dies, even though he’s not out there in his gear. He knows how to size people up, on and off the ice, and though he’s always polite about it, it’s been a long time since people fumbling over his name has given him that rush and excitement that comes with newfound celebrity.
But there’s something about this kid who nearly trips over himself, embarrassed, that gives him pause. He’s not sure what it is - not yet - but Bob knows there’s something there that he can’t quite place. He pats Jack on the back and tries to say something encouraging - Jack’s the captain, after all, and should be fostering these relationships - and remembers to be on the lookout for #15.
Time passes and Bob starts hearing more about him - seeing more of him. His mother sends... something to Jack; Bob thinks it’s just food, but Jack stammers over the words, and seems almost angry. But he mentions it to Alicia, who prepares something for the boy - for Bittle - as well. It’s only the polite thing to do. As Jack’s senior year goes on, he starts bringing him up in conversation more (without that pinched look to his eyes), and he might be imagining it, but Bob would say that, on occasions where Bittle is sitting in the background during his skype calls with Jack, Jack seems almost more relaxed. Happy. Like he hadn’t seen him in a long time.
Bob is no idiot. He knows what the league is like, he knows how cruel the world can be.
But he’s also seen his son stand up to abuse from himself, more cruel than anybody else can dole out, and he just hopes, as he watches Jack run across the lawn, that Jack knows Bob has his back.
Give me a Check, Please character and I’ll give you a headcanon.
