@little-smartass kojOJAIOSJAIOS JESS YOU ARE SO GREAT 💖😂 What a great response tho, holy shit–don’t like this content? I’m gonna make more of it just because you specifically hate it pffff. I have new conviction to finish the flangsty NieYao we talked about 😈 It was one on Hot Sauce and one on Headbands Are Serious Business, though I deleted the comment off of the latter (cause I had already said my piece on Hot Sauce and am gonna not interact with any further trolling)
@dustbottle They’ve been on a few of my Xiyao things before, saying nasty things, always anonymously. They hate JGY, and it’s very clear they’re working out some sort of personal issue–it’s a shame that it’s on people it can hurt. I’m fine! I just don’t want other people who may be affected by it to be caught off guard :(
@icosahedonist Yeahh, it is, I hope they get help and stop trying to screw with other people.
@greenfairyarmadillo Ahahaha, it’s funny you say that because it seems not! One of the ones I got last night had ‘bland’ in it!
@icosahedonist replied to your post: Last night I dreamt of a fic in which Sid is hired...
we were all channeling that shit at some point bc i have in a text file from last year’s sga prompts: “au where geno and anna are hockey players and sid is the live-in nanny they first separately then together start lusting after”
Oh that’s where I saw it! I was looking at the public/up-for-grabs prompt list but yes it’s from your signup and it’s been haunting me ever since.
sid playing with geno's hair (it's getting long in the back!)
“Hey. Hey, G.” Sid has his head tilted back against the back of the booth, and both his flush and loose, silly grin indicate he’s a few sheets to the wind. Truth be told, Zhenya is pretty far from sober himself. Wins like the one they had tonight against Columbus are worth celebrating.
“Hi Sid,” Zhenya says affectionately. He finds himself mirroring Sid’s wide smile. Does he look as fond and besotted as he’s feeling? Probably, but he can’t find it in himself to care.
“Such a good game, G,” Sid says. Zhenya can practically see the cartoon hearts in his eyes, and he preens under the attention.
“I’m best,” he says, with an overdone air of pride. Sid giggles at him. Zhenya softens. “You best Sid.” Too many of his feelings are bleeding into his voice, but fuck it.
Sid hums, and reaches along the back of the booth towards Zhenya and starts drunkenly petting at the back of Zhenya’s head. Zhenya can’t remember why letting him do this in public might be a bad idea. He closes his eyes and leans into the touch, nuzzling into Sid’s hand. Sid laughs.
“Love your hair like this,” he says, and winds his hand through the curls at the nape of Zhenya’s neck. “Love you,” he adds, after a moment, his tone more serious this time. Zhenya’s eyes snap open. They haven’t said this to each other yet.
“Sid,” he says, and has to clear his throat. “Tell me again, when you not drunk?”
“Yeah,” Sid says, cradling the back of Zhenya’s head in his hand, and looking deep into his eyes. “I’ll tell you all you want. It’s been true for a really long time.”
Zhenya blinks, then brushes the backs of his fingers along the sharp line of Sid’s jaw. “You drink water now. We get cab, go to bed. In morning, I’m show you how much I’m feel same way.”
“‘Kay,” Sid says, smiling like a promise. Like forever.
For those of you who asked for more than one thing-I’ll try to make sure I post your ask again when I hit that topic.
Flower love, team love and family skate below the cut!
It doesn’t surprise Geno in the slightest how often Flower shows up after that first day, although now he rings the doorbell every time and that does surprise Geno.
He’s also pleasantly surprised at how quickly Sidney seems to, not just get used to Flower’s presence, but to also genuinely enjoy it. He shouldn’t be surprised—Flower is not hard to like. There’s an easiness to knowing him and his kind nature tends to draw people in. Sidney is no exception and it makes Geno happy that he’s getting so comfortable around Flower and Gonch, as well.
Taylor seems to like Flower a lot, too, but she loves Gonch. That first week she only meets a handful of people—Flower, his girlfriend Vero, Gonch, Gonch’s wife Ksenia and their daughter, Natalie, who is just a couple of months older than Taylor. If there’s a hierarchy, Gonch is third, only after Sidney and Geno and, sometimes, if Gonch stops by, she squeals and abandons both of them for him.
Gonch had been the only other person he’d told about Sidney—the same time he’d told Flower. It was when they were in Vegas for the awards and Geno was still reeling from the breakup. Flower and Gonch had finally cornered him in his hotel room and he broke down and told them everything.
So they know and they had been unbelievably supportive and still are and it makes Geno so happy that that support extends to Sidney now.
But the rest of the team—that’s another story. He hasn’t told anyone else and he’s not sure how to handle it now that Sidney’s actually here.
He keeps quiet about it through the first couple of weeks back and that’s fine except—except he wants Sidney to come to games. And family skate is coming up and Flower is throwing a Valentine’s Day party and he can bring Sidney to all of those things but he’s pretty sure if he does it’s going to be very clear that they are far more than just friends. He’s not ashamed of that but he also doesn’t want to make things difficult in the locker room or on the ice and he has no idea how everyone would react. He’d like to think it wouldn’t be an issue—they’re all good guys—but he’s still a little bit afraid to risk it.
He has to think about it now, though. And not just because Sidney is here and he wants to give Sidney the happy life he deserves. He’s leaving Sidney the car today so he can take Taylor to the park and the library so Flower is driving him to practice.
“Are you bringing Sidney and Taylor to family skate?”
Geno’s honestly not sure what to say. He wants to, badly, but he’s not sure if it’s a smart idea so he shrugs. “Not sure. Little worried about it, you know?”
“What are you worried about, G?”
“If they think…” Geno sighs. “Is not easy, Flower. If they find out maybe they not so happy to share locker room with me. Not sure is good idea in case they figure out. Right now, only you and Gonch know.”
Flower gives him an incredulous side eye.
“What?”
“It’s just funny that you think me and Gonch are the only ones that know.”
Geno’s eyes pop open wide. “What you mean? You tell?!”
“What? No I didn’t tell! Fuck, what kind of an asshole do you think I am you dick!”
“Then why you say people know.”
Flower sighs. “Geno, I hate to burst your bubble but most of the guys on the team have suspected that Sidney was a lot more than just your friend since approximately November of your rookie year.”
“What? How?!”
Flower rolls his eyes. “Because you are about as subtle as a puck to the balls. You might say friend but I’ve never heard you talk about any other friend the way you talk about Sidney. It was kind of obvious.”
“That not true!” But Geno’s ears are turning pink.
Flower puts his wrist to his head and fakes a bad russian accent. “Oh I miss Sid so much. Oh Sid so perfect. Did you know sun shine out of Sidney’s every orifice? Sidney so thoughtful he buy me scraper! Sidney has best curls! Sidney best at puck handling! Did I tell you about time Sidney said very funny thing? Oh and-”
Geno cuts him off with a punch to the arm.
“Ow!” But Flower is laughing at Geno who is slumped down in his seat, face as red as if he’s been running drills.
“Not funny.”
“I disagree. It’s a little funny.”
“You really think they all know?” Geno bites his lip.
“Yeah, I do. Or at least….strongly suspect.”
“Fuck.”
“You’re missing the point, G. They know or at least they think they know and they don’t care. It doesn’t bother them. They all love the shit out of you. Has any one of them been weird to you?”
“No. Never.”
“Think about that!”
Geno lets out a deep breath. “It’s…okay but is still scary, Flower, you know? You think is all a joke but this our life we talking about.”
“Hey, I don’t think it’s a joke. Honestly. I just, I think you wanted Sidney to be here with you for so long, it seems like a shame to have to hide what he is to you and I know that’s not what you want.”
“Is not what I want but also want to be sure career secure, Sidney and Taylor safe. Lot to lose.”
Flower nods. “Okay. Okay I get that. Maybe…maybe if you do it a little at a time. With people you know for sure you can trust. And, I know you won’t want to hear this but I think you should tell management. Coach, Mario. They’ll probably want you to talk to Jen.”
Geno runs a hand through his hair. “You really think no one car?” He sounds so hopeful.
“G, I would never say it if I didn’t believe it. Tell you what, think about talking to management, okay? And in the meantime, maybe you can Sid and Taylor can come over for dinner tonight or tomorrow night. I’ll invite Tanger, Duper, couple of other guys. Guys who already pretty much know, you know?”
“Need to talk to Sid. And maybe…maybe see if Gonch watch Taylor.”
“Sure, whatever works.”
As they pull into the lot Geno, in a wildly uncharacteristic move, gives Flower’s shoulder a brief squeeze. “Thanks.”
Geno is quiet and focused through practice but it’s always there in his mind. What Flower is saying makes a lot of sense and the more he thinks about keeping Sidney hidden away or pretending they’re not more than friends the more he hates the idea.
As they’re leaving the ice he asks Flower if they can stay a bit after showering.
“Yeah, sure. What’s up?”
“Gonna talk to coach, maybe Mario if he can.”
Flower lights up with a smile. “Absolutely.”
It turns out Mario is available so Geno meets with him and coach. It goes a lot differently than he expects but the gist of it is along the lines of, “I’m in a relationship. With a man and I want to bring him to family skate.”
“Oh? Your friend Sidney from home? Are we finally going to get to meet him?”
Neither of them looks surprised as Geno sits there dumbfounded while his cheeks turn what must be at least six shades of red.
As it turns out, they do want him to talk to Jen, as well and her response is pretty much the same. “Oh! Is Sidney finally here?”
Flower laughs himself to tears when Geno tells him about it on the way home.
Geno punches him in the arm again for good measure.
–
Gonch hesitates approximately zero seconds before agreeing to watch Taylor the next night so Geno and Sidney head to Flower’s without her.
True to his word there are only three other people there—Tanger, Duper and, to Geno’s surprise, Dana. He shouldn’t be surprised. Dana has been beyond welcoming to Geno. From the very beginning, he’s been there, working Geno through any equipment issues, chatting and just generally being someone who made Geno feel more like part of the team. More and more Geno is realizing the support he has and is so grateful for it all.
There’s about a three second pause when Geno and Sidney nervously walk into the kitchen hand in hand and then the guys are crowding around Sidney, introducing themselves, calling Geno several unflattering names for not introducing them sooner and just generally being cool.
Geno makes eye contact with Flower who mouths, “Told you,” and smiles. Geno smiles back because Flower was right. He really was right.
Later, as they sit around the dining room table playing cards and talking, Flower leans forward. “So, what you gonna do about family skate?”
Geno thinks about it for a moment and then reaches over to hold Sidney’s hand. “I think, if Sid want, we just go. Be normal. Not hide.”
He looks over at Sidney who is already turning pink but flashes him a shy smile before he nods. “Yeah. I think…I’m okay with that.”
Tanger smiles broadly and pats the table. “It’s settled then.”
Sidney glances up at them all, smiling and beyond grateful for the support they’ve shown tonight. “You really think everyone will be okay about it?”
There’s a chorus of nods and a firm “yes” before Flower says, “And on the off chance anyone a little weird about it? We take care of it.”
There’s another chorus of agreement and Duper deals the next round.
–
On the morning of family skate, Geno gets up with Taylor while Sidney showers. It took her a week or so to really get familiar enough with him but now she goes right to him almost any time he reaches for her. She trusts him and Geno knows that no small gift.
Two days ago, Geno had Taylor over at Gonch’s while Sidney ran to the library. When Taylor fell and bruised her cheek she, understandably, started wailing. Gonch reached her first but despite her immense love for Gonch, she pulled away from him and reached for Geno and that—Geno had had to swallow thickly a few times as he took her into his arms to try and comfort her. She nestled right in under his chin and sucked on her thumb, calming almost immediately.
It meant a lot to Geno.
This morning Taylor is all smiles and keeps saying “G!” as he gets her diaper changed and settles her into the new high chair they bought for her. That’s also new, something she started saying a few days ago and Geno doesn’t think he’ll ever get tired of it. He’d even called Mama to tell her all about it.
They eat breakfast together and Sidney tidies up the kitchen while Geno scoops up Taylor and goes to get her ready for the skate. It’s indoors but he still bundles her up in black leggings and a black and yellow tutu. He layers a tiny Malkin Jersey over a long sleeved black undershirt and finishes with little ruffly white socks and tiny yellow Converse that he bought her a few days ago.
He knows the black and yellow bow he puts into her hair will be pointless once he puts on her striped Penguins stocking cap but he leaves it in anyhow and snaps a picture to send to Mama and Papa.
When he carries her into the bedroom, Sidney is pulling on his shoes and looking more than a little nervous. He stands up straight and holds out his arms. “Is this okay? I know it says Crosby—it’s the one Mom had made for me. I didn’t know if…well I can switch to a Malkin one if you want?”
Geno smiles and moves closer to Sidney, kissing him softly before Taylor whacks at their faces with a squeal. “Is perfect, Sid. Best. Please don’t change.”
Sidney takes a deep breath. “Okay. Yeah. Okay.” He glances at Taylor. “Oh my god, G, it looks like the Pens Store threw up on her!”
“She look amazing!”
Sidney’s laughing. A lot. But he nods. “Yeah. Yeah, she does.”
Once they get to the rink, Sidney only hesitates once, just before they head in. “Geno are you sure? Because if you’re not ready for this or if we just need to lay low I can do that.”
Geno shakes his head. “No. Don’t want to do that, Sid. This important. You, Taylor, you my family and don’t want to hide that.” He reaches out and grabs Sidney’s hand.
“Okay,” Sidney nods. “Let’s go to family skate.”
They walk in together hand in hand.
Once they’re in the room, they settle on the benches between Duper and Flower as they strip Taylor out of her coat and get skates on. Geno think they get a few looks when he helps Sidney to his feet and kisses his temple but he just scoops up Taylor, takes Sidney’s hand and leads them to the ice, Flower and Vero trailing behind.
It’s Taylor’s first time on the ice and the first lap is in Geno’s arms, the second in Sidney’s and the third is in Gonch’s. While Gonch and Ksenia wrangle Taylor, Geno takes Sidney’s hand and together they take a couple laps, joined here and there with random teammates and some of their family members.
Every single person who talks with them is exceptionally nice. They all also seem to be completely unsurprised at Sidney’s existence, let alone presence. Sidney loses track of the number of times he hears, “You must be Sidney.”
He looks up a Geno after the fourth time he hears and all Geno can do is give a sheepish smile and shrug. “I used to talk about you maybe a lot.”
Sidney beams and leans in, letting Geno wrap an arm around his shoulders.
By the end of the day Sidney’s been introduced to everyone at the skate, Taylor’s been invited to no less than five play dates and at least seven teammates have quietly congratulated Geno and told them how happy they are for him.
that’s how it is in carolina too. tho when i was there last time, it looked like there was room? but… nope. no goalie on the bench. idk
i just don’t understand that at all lmao. but from what i’ve seen barclays center is. really not good for hockey (a literal car in the stands, the scoreboard off-center???) so i guess i shouldn’t be too surprised lol
