First Meet - Nico Hischier
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NICO!HISCHIER X FLORENCE!ROSSI; MATCHMAKER SERIES ✮⋆˙ summary - Timo's bestfriend Florence, and Nico meeting for the first time, but he thinks she's Timo's girlfriend. [2,2k] ✮⋆˙ warnings - just a sweet pure content ✮⋆˙ author's note - Okay, this is the first part of the short series! I hope you guys and especially the nonnie likes it! ✮⋆˙ please reblog guys ˙⋆✮
Florence’s flight from Switzerland was a long and tiring one. She thought that flying first class would be without any problems or annoying people, but apparently, it wasn't.
She is used to long flights, since she plays for the Swiss women’s hockey team, and it’s her rookie season as a professional women's hockey player for the New York Sirens, but this one felt like an eternity.
Florence likes babies, but listening to a nonstop high-pitched crying from the booth right next to her made her want to cry. And even though the mother tried to calm the baby down, she didn’t succeed.
But Florence is happy, to finally, after almost ten hours' flight, stand on the ground as she makes her way to the main hall with her two huge suitcases, backpack on her back and a duffle bag hanging from her left shoulder.
Airpods are plugged in her ears as she hums to the rhythm of the song playing in them. She almost doesn’t notice Timo making his way towards you.
It’s not until she almost crushes into him that she notices him, and a huge smile splatters all over her face. “Timo!” she shouts, even though he is standing a few feet away from you.
But she knows that Timo doesn’t mind how loud you are, because he does the same. “Rosa!” he mimics her enthusiasm, grinning widely at her and the two big suitcases next to her.
Not waiting a second, Florence loses her grip on the handles, lets the duffel bag drop to the ground, and hugs him tightly.
“It’s so good to see you, T.” Florence nuzzles her nose in his neck, breathing in his masculine scent. A mixture of pine and citrus that smells just like home.
“I missed you, too, Rosa.” he tightens his hold around her, squishing her to his body. The two of them have known each other since forever, and since Florence’s parents died when she was nine, and Timo’s parents took her under their roof, he has been a brother to her that she never knew she needed.
When he lets go of her, he makes his way for her suitcases and bag, which he throws over his shoulder and walks back to her. “Now, let’s go. There are so many things I wanna show you, and people I want you to meet.”
Timo drove Florence to her apartment in Jersey City, which he helped pick up, this first summer, before her season with the Sirens.
Since she sorted everything with the team before summer, she decided to stay in Switzerland until the last possible day she could have, because it was really hard to leave her friends and Timo’s family.
Florence is now walking down the hallway from her bedroom to the living room, where Timo is waiting for her, before the two of them leave for the Prudential, where he invited her to watch the practice.
“Ready, Rosie?” he looks up from the sofa where he is sitting.
A simple nod is for him to stand up and, together with her, to leave the apartment. The ride to the arena is comfortable and quick. Their shared playlist is blasting loudly as both of them sing along, enjoying the calm, comfortable atmosphere.
In fifteen minutes, Timo is parking his car in the private underground parking lot, and both of them are making their way inside the arena.
Timo has his hand draped around Florence’s shoulder the whole walk until they reach the locker room. She knows most of the guys from Timo’s stories, but she has never met them, even though this is her home arena, too, now.
“TIMO!” one of the guys shouts, and by the ginger hair and beard, Florence assumes it’s Connor Brown.
A huge grin spreads across Timo’s face as he tugs her deeper inside the locker room. All gazes now shift to her figure, and she feels so small under the intensity of it.
“I want you to meet Florence Rossi. It’s her rookie season as one of the Sirens.” He introduces Florence so proudly and with so much confidence that it makes her heart ache.
She knows that Timo loves her, but hearing him say her name with so much pride is something new to her.
“Hey!” she waves her hand awkwardly, shifting from one foot to another. “It’s nice to meet you guys.”
The first one to greet her is Jesper, who has a wide grin on his lips as he extends his hand toward her.
“Jesper Bratt, it’s really nice to meet you.” The Swedish accent is thick in his words, and even though no one told her where he is from, she can tell by his blonde hair and his nose.
Florence shakes his hand, and before she knows it, everyone in the room is introducing themselves to her. Sher gives everyone polite smiles as she introduces herself.
The last one to introduce himself is Nico, who has been watching Florence the whole time. He noticed how she kept shifting on her feet as the guys introduced themselves. How she nervously laughed at their jokes or when they tried to make small talk.
“Hey, I’m Nico Hischier,” he smiles politely, shaking her hand gently, yet he notices how firm her hold is. “Timo’s best friend, I hope,” Nico chuckles, looking at Timo, who has been standing next to Florence the whole time.
“Yeah, I know who you are. Timo told me a lot about you.” Florence grins, her eyes roaming Nico’s face. He is a handsome guy, everyone can see that, but there is something so hot, so masculine and dominant about him that it makes Florence feel small, yet safe, in a weird way.
“I hope only the good,” he flashes her a smile as he lets go of her hand, not wanting to hold it for too long.
“Of course.”
“The worst,” Timo and Florence say at the same time. Florence nudges her elbow into his ribs as he wraps his hand around her shoulders.
“Only the best,” Florence says again with a genuine smile. “Anyway, I think you should get ready, T. I’m going to check out the ice,” she winks at him, and with a small wave to Nico, she leaves.
As soon as she steps out of the room and the door closes behind her, she lets out a long breath, her hands shaking a little bit, and she still feels Nico’s hold on her hand.
The man is literally everything she ever dreamed about. Six foot something, broad shoulders, thick muscular thighs and those veiny arms. Fuck he is Florence’s wet dream.
She met a lot of guys, and she even slept with a few, but she never men who would send shivers down her spine just with one simple handshake.
She shakes her head, forcing herself to nod to think about him that way. He is Timo’s friend and captain for fucks sale, she should not think about him more than a person she knows.
Timo and Nico are skating side by side, breathing heavily after their 3-on-3 game.
“You’ve been awfully quiet,” Timo says as they slowly skate towards the bench. His eyes focus on Nico, who has his thinking face on and is looking at his skates.
When he doesn’t answer, Timo shoves him in the shoulder, causing him to stumble on his skates. Nico looks at him with wide eyes and a shocked face.
“What was that for?”
“For not paying attention to what I am saying,” Timo explains, shaking his head with a chuckle. “I asked you, why are you so quiet today?”
Nico takes in a deep breath, looking down at his skates, as he thinks about what excuse to say. “Just thinking,” he settles on, because partly he is telling the truth. He is thinking about Florence, but he can’t tell his best friend he is thinking about his girlfriend. “You know about the season, and all.” Nico adds, when he notices the ‘you’re full of shit’ look Timo has on his face.
“Yeah, well, the guys are all ready put maximum for us to win the cup,” Timo shuffles his skates. “We won’t let you down, Neeks.” he knows how much pressure is on Nico’s shoulders, and he does adore and respect him for that.
Seeing how Nico handled last season, which was a terrible one for the Devils, makes him realize that he never wants to have another captain. And that he will do anything to keep Nico on this team.
“I know you won’t.” Nico gives him a soft smile. He reaches for his bottle, his eyes roaming the stands as he drinks. He stops in his tracks when his eyes land on Florence.
She isn’t sitting far, maybe five or six rows behind the net, her legs are propped on the seat in front of her, as she watches the guys on the ice, as if she was studying them.
Nico lets his eyes roam over Florence’s face, even though he can’t see much, but he studies the concern on her face, the way her eyes follow the movements of Dawson. And he knows that he wants her eyes to follow his movements.
“Timo! Nico! You up!” Coach yells, pulling both Nico and Timo from their thoughts.
“Let’s go,” he murmurs, smiling softly to himself. It’s his time to show Florence how good he is.
Florence’s eyes never leave the ice. She has been sitting behind the net the whole practice, her eyes glued to almost every guy as she watches how they play, skate, and how they think during the game.
She makes mental notes for herself when Nico and Timo skate towards the centre of the ice, ready to play against Cody and Johnny. Her eyes focus on Nico as she unintentionally leans forward to get a better look at the face-off.
She notices the way Nico takes a deep breath before he bends down, ready to take the puck. She notices how his eyes hypnotize the spot on the ice, where the puck is supposed to fall.
When the puck falls on the ice, Nico’s hand makes quick work with the stick, and the puck is flying between his legs, right on Timo’s stick, who is quick to move past Cody.
Nico doesn’t waste a second, and he is on the other side, waiting for Timo to pass the puck. When he receives it, Florence notices the way he watches Johnny, his footwork, and the way he is holding his stick. She also notices the way his eyes quickly shoot to see Jacob in the net.
And in a second, the puck is flying at Jacob, who doesn’t move quickly enough to catch the puck, and with a clink, the puck ends up behind his back.
A huge smile is playing on Nico’s face, when Timo slung his hand around his shoulder as they skate behind the net. In that moment, Florence’s and Nico’s eyes meet, and a lump forms in her throat from the way he looks at her.
“That’s all for today, fellas,” Coach yells, as he looks at his team, that is in front of him. “Go get some rest before the game tomorrow!”
With that, everyone leaves the ice, except for Timo, who is now skating behind the net to speak with Florence. “Hey, Rosa, I bought your skates. They are in my locker. Come skate with Nico and me for a bit!”
At the mention of his name, Nico’s head shoots up from where he is sitting on the bench. A confusion settles on his face when he sees Florence making her way down the tunnel, while Timo skates to him.
“Do you mind, Rosa, joining us?”
“Rosa?” Nico asks, even more confused now.
“Oh, yeah, sorry,” Timo chuckles to himself as he shakes his head at himself. Of course, Nico doesn’t know Florence’s nickname. “Florence. Do you mind?”
Nico shakes his head, his throat feeling dry at just the bare mention of her. “I uh, I can leave if you want some privacy.” Nico offers, already standing from the bench.
“Oh, if you mind, I’ll just watch you guys.” This time, it’s Florence’s voice to answer Nico. Their heads turn her way as they watch her make her way down the tunnel and on the ice, in her pink costume made Bauer skates.
“No… I don’t mind, I just thought…” he trails off, looking between Timo and her.
“Oh, no. It’s your rink too, after all.” Florens grins at him as she skates towards them, feeling the ice under her skates after a whole summer. She then strides away from both Nico and Timo, enjoying the burn in her quads and calves. The burn brings her pleasure and a lot of adrenaline.
She lets her legs do all the work while she lets her mind go completely blind, enjoying the way skating makes her feel. Powerful, free, and just like herself.
“She’s… fast,” Nico murmurs under his breath as he watches Florence with eyes full of adoration and… a hint of surprise.
“Yeah, she always was.” Timo grins, proud that he was the one who taught her to skate. “Come on, let's join her.” And with that, they both skate towards Florence, matching her pace of skating.
TAGLIST: @buckystwilight