🚨 mcdrai headcanon time 🚨 @nylanderscores came into my ask box to ask if i'm into kid fic and i said no! and then immediately came up with this so it turns out i like everything if it's mcdrai, go figure.
the set-up: non-hockey player leon has a daughter, charly, who he parents alone while celeste is off in LA trying to make it as an actress. she's still involved in their daughter's life and sees her for the holidays, summer and every now and then, but leon is the primary caretaker.
soooo what if leon is a long time hockey fan, moves to edmonton for work in the oil industry because he wants to better provide for his little girl, and naturally becomes a bit of an edmonton fan through the power of osmosis + admiration for good hockey because hello? have you seen connor mcdavid? name one person who's not a fan of him...
he watches all the games with his girl and one day decides to get her a cute lil mcdavid jersey. he gets the smallest size available but it's still big on her because she's quite small and it's so cuteeeee, his kid with her big green eyes and head full of curls. leon ends up posting a photo online, not thinking much of it, and it goes viral, thousands of retweets and re-shares, enough attention that the oilers social media team reaches out to him and asks if he wants to come to a game with his daughter, get the VIP experience, meet connor before the game, etc etc
leon obviously says yes because hello!! free tickets? meet connor? sign them up! so he brings his his girl, who is soooo excited to meet connor, like bursting with joy, jumping around everywhere, ecstatic to watch a game LIVE with her dad and with CONNOR. she doesn't fully get that connor will be playing and they will be sat elsewhere watching, bit of a lost argument, leon just rolls with it.
so connor comes in and he's expecting some middle aged man he has to be polite and fake nice towards, gets hit in the face with a greek god with That Body who's also super nice and has the cutest little kid... like wow, talk about triple threat. connor is a bit nervous talking to leon and is very glad charly is there. he's naturally good with kids, kneels down to speak to charly face to face, jokes around with her and does as many silly poses for pictures as she wants to.
"you don't have to!"
"no, no, i don't mind," connor says as he makes a complicated finger salute from the princess sparkle rainbow tv show.
and leon is like damn damn damn.........this is gonna fundamentally change me as a person............. the McDavid Effect™️
while they tour the arena (not a scheduled activity, connor offered when leon mentioned it's their first time there) he and leon start chatting more. there's a Vibe from the very first interaction. leon is just a liiiiil flirty, picks up on how it flusters connor, makes him blush and look away before he darts his eyes back, shy but so clearly interested it inflates leon's ego to the size of the moon.
despite picking up on it, leon doesn't do anything because truly what can he do? this is connor mcdavid!! plus, his daughter is there, a few paces away chatting to the social media admin about her favourite princess, and leon is just. Some Guy in a beige sweater trying his best for his kid and not really sure if he's succeeding most days..... #DramaQueen
eventually the fan experience ends and he goes to the box with charly. they watch the game, it's an oilers win! yay! as they're leaving, a member of staff comes find them and asks if they want to come down for a last-minute surprise.
this is usually not part of the fan experience plan, but connor wants to see leon again so he makes up a story of wanting to give charly his stick, which is hilarious because it's like twice her height but she is very very happy with the gift.
and leon says, "that's very kind of you," and connor shrugs like it's no big deal because really, it isn't, i'm happy she's happy.
maybe he finds a way to ask leon about his wife/charly's mum, leon shares that she's out of the picture and maybe it's for the better because since then he's realised he doesn't really swing that away, and connor kind of goes deer in headlights because he wasn't expecting such a clear declaration like omg... single with a cute kid AND gay? connor is Not Ready, but leon notices how connor reacts and he decides to ask connor out because what's the worst that can happen? connor says no and he goes out to dinner with just his kid? that's what he was gonna do anyway lol
so leon says, "you're probably busy, but we're thinking of going out to dinner, if you fancied grabbing something to eat?"
and connor replies. "i'd love to. i just—i need to shower, but—"
"we can wait. right, charly?"
charly nods enthusiastically. "we can wait!"
so they go out for dinner and it's really nice. just the three of them in a hole in the wall type of place that leon and charly go to every week, owned by an old italian couple who couldn't care less about hockey, don't even blink an eye at the sight of connor there (though they obviously know who he is, they just straight up don't care). during dinner, connor tries to be like "we can exchange numbers... for charly... for whenever she wants to come to a game...."
and leon is like please, i know what you're doing!! but goes with it anyway. maybe he thinks connor is only looking for a booty call because surelyyyyy connor isn't seriously interested in a single dad who works long hours and dresses exclusively in j. crew
but then connor is very serious and earnest as usual. offers them box seats at the next matinee game. asks if charly is taking skating lessons. offers to sign her up to the oilers academy. leon is flattered but also confused like he thought this was just gonna be a hook up, but connor doesn't really make a move and instead mainly talks about hockey. did leon read things wrong? then when they do see each other connor is back to being flustered and shy and blushy and leon's like hmmm... confusing...
and then!! one day connor says something about charly meeting lenny and that there is a park near by with an area to skate, so they make plans to meet on a saturday afternoon. leon also brings skates, so they all play together, very fun and wholesome!
at one point, charly and lenny are sitting off to the side. she's good, doesn't run around, so leon is ok just leaving her for a couple mins. can see her the whole time as she plays with lenny. connor asks leon if he wants to play with him, has noticed the way leon's eyes lingered on connor and charly's sticks the whole time, and that's how connor finds out that leon is actually decent at hockey!! he may skate like a lumbering fridge but get him a stick and he's surprisingly sharp, his passes crazy accurate, his movements decisive. and it turns connor onnnnnn like what the fuuuuuck. how is this guy so hot and charming and now good at hockey? outrageous...
leon is feeling himself, mentions maybe one day they can plan this and he can leave charly with a friend. probably makes a comment too about understanding if connor doesn't want that because he plays every day with/against the best and leon is just some shmuck who can barely skate in a straight line (literally untrue but ok #liar)
connor is like please anything to spend more time with you......i love you......but what comes out is a polite i would love that :) decides to invite them over to his place for hot chocolate since it's getting dark outside
while charly and her new best friend lenny are watching bluey or whatever the fuck 6 year olds watch, connor and leon head to the kitchen to get drinks, lose themselves in a conversation, and somehow connor's hand ends up leon's hip… and he says, "if i'm reading this wrong, tell me…" while he leans in close, his nose bumping into leon's neck, his body warm and solid and thick
side note - rand and i debated a bit on who would make the first move, but i like the idea of connor doing it because he doesn't care about their power dynamic. doesn't even occur to him that he has the power here. feels very powerless underneath leon's heavy gaze...
maybe they have a small soft lil kissie and they're both like giddy teenagers about it. but leon has to go back home cause it's dinner and bath time soon for charly. connor gives him a cheek kiss and is all like "call me"
and leon probably STILL thinks this would be a casual one time thing? he's obviously very protective of his daughter and she ADORES connor, so he wouldn't wanna mess that up either?? but at the same time quickly realises he can't say no to connor, just like he can't say no to charly, so he calls and they they talk for hours. get to know each other. realise how much they have in common. they compliment each others freak by being old boring obsessive men. it's LOVE!
connor asks him out on a proper date, and leon is quiet for a moment too long and so connor quickly back tracks!!! is worried he ruined it all!!! but leon jumps in and is like "i want you...i mean i want that...to go on a date...but charly..." and explains how obviously dating as a single dad is a big deal, he's not sure he can do casual but he also doesn't know how much of himself he can commit when his daughter is his number one priority
connor saying something like, "i hear you but i really like you and i think we should just try it... it's fine! we can go out for dinner and if you don't want to see me anymore, you can just say so, i promise i won't take it personally!"
so they do dinner and it ends up being at connor's, in part because of privacy, in part because of tight schedules. connor says they can order in whatever leon wants, but leon knows how to cook because he has to properly feed charly, so he offers to make some carbonara for them. hand feeds connor straight from the pan. "here, check if it's good." connor's lips grazing his thumb, tongue darting out, doesn't mean to be flirty but also can't help it because it's just them and they're so close and they're both so hot for each other.
getting progressively more flirty and touchy as the night goes on. not even having the excuse of alcohol because connor doesn't drink during the season. end up on the couch talking but they're like right on top of each other. did leon spend the entire lead up to the date (a week. the oilers had an away trip. they talk every night) thinking about how red connor would get everywhere in bed? maybe! who can blame him.
and then there's a moment leon kind of stops fondling connor's shoulders and goes. "connor, you know how you said we could just be friends?" and connor is already in a lustful daze, has to really stop to focus on what leon is saying, starts worrying before leon continues. "i'm not sure i can do that." he leans in close, his lips dragging against the shell of connor's ear. "i don't want to be just friends."
may or may not have his other hand on Connor’s dick Lol. he asks if this is ok at every point!!!! a perfect gentleman!!!! until Connor is like oh my god just fuck me
leon leaving a hickey the size of Alberta on Connor’s inner thigh (he feels it at training the next day). he can’t stay the night obviously but after they’ve cleaned up they cuddle a bit and have a convo cause obviously their situation is so complicated!!!
“i saw how good you were with my kid and I wanted you, it’s fucked up”
“really? not for my hockey?” because people always want him for his hockey! but no!! leon just finds him real cute and funny and good!
connor being so charmed by leon and how much he cares for his daughter and how he really wants to take things slow in their relationship…. meanwhile leon is Nervous like why does this big super star hockey player even want him. and obviously it’s hard but they wanna try!! this feels too special!!!
first time leon asks connor to fuck him, “put those hockey thighs and hips to good use baby!” connor has to remember how to breathe cause. Well. Leon!!!