Fic O'Ween Day 8 (because it's still before midnight for me): Picking someone else's costume
Haven't done a social media fic in ages! I missed my boy Olli something fierce. Thanks @lumosinlove for the characters and @noots-fic-fests for the prompts!
Take 1: James Potter
“Hello, MTV, and welcome to my crib.”
“Try again.”
“I think I should be allowed to call it my crib.” James spread his hands with a crooked grin. “C’mon, I spend more time in here than my actual house some days.”
“Your line is hi, I’m James Potter with the Gryffindor Lions.”
James raised his eyebrows and pointed at someone behind the camera. “Not all the Gryffindor Lions are here, though. Our pride has been shrunk. We’re prideless. We Jurassic Park’ed some lions.”
“Look out, they bite,” another voice commented off-screen. The camera swung to catch Sirius Black just as he ducked behind an audio table.
James was laughing when they came back to him, but shook it off with a few flails of his arms and legs. “Alright, bringin’ it back around. Hi, I’m James Potter with the Gryffindor Lions, and my Halloween costume this year is…drumroll, please…”
A few pages of wrapping paper fluttered to the ground from his eager hands as he dug into the gift bag at his feet.
He made a delighted sound as he pulled a pair of binoculars free. “Is this a [expletive] birdwatching outfit? Oh my god! Oh, [expletive] yes, look at this shirt.”
He hung the binoculars around his neck and pulled a loudly orange-and-pink shirt free from the bag, holding it next to his head so the full pattern of turquoise parrots and flamingoes could be seen. Two massive palm fronds decorated the shoulders. Laughter filled the room off-camera.
“I’m obsessed. I’m keeping this. Does it come with shorts or should I bring my—yes.” James gasped and held up the pair of cargo shorts that had been folded at the bottom. “I needed a new pair! My last ones ripped right up the [expletive]. Who picked this?”
“Jackson.”
James blew a kiss to the camera. “Love you, Nado. You have exquisite taste.”
Take 2: Finn O’Hara
Finn gave the camera a suspicious look while he dug through the bag. “If it’s a leprechaun costume, I’m suing.”
“It’s not.”
He didn’t seem convinced; at least, not until he pulled a shirt free and gave a shout when he saw the front. “Oh my god, no way!”
The back was blank, but whatever had been printed on the front had him looking around the rest of the room with pure childlike joy.
“Who did this? Was it you?”
“Show us, Harz.”
Finn whipped the shirt around. Massive red letters read,
I 🖤
HOT MOMS
in the style of a classic New York tee, followed by,
(yes, yours)
below.
“Look out, Gryff,” he warned. “I’m conversational in Spanish. I’m attempting to learn French. Somewhat fluent in English. None of you are safe. Oh my god, I get to wear my heart sunglasses with these. It’s all coming together.”
Take 3: Remus Lupin
“Yeah, that was me,” he laughed. “It’s from Manhattan, too, actually. Fun fact.”
“You drove to New York for a shirt?”
“No, no, I got his brother’s phone number and we did a hand-off at the next game.”
“That takes so much planning.”
Remus scoffed. “Come on, Marlene, I’m always planning.”
“You’re playing checkers, I’m [expletive] your dad.”
The room broke into laughter. “Exactly,” Remus said. “Except it’s you’re playing checkers, I’m Venmo’ing your brother twenty bucks.”
“What’d you get?”
“I feel wire and plastic, so I’m scared.” He squinted into the mass of wrinkled tissue paper. “Is that…yeah, it totally is.”
The stethoscope was comically small and violently purple. He draped it over the back of his neck and held up the stamped heart pattern on the back for the camera to see, then reached back in for a tiny lab coat that barely fit his arm in one of the sleeves.
“Christ, is that a headband?”
The elastic of the band was a similarly aggressive lilac shade. Remus put it on and switched the headlamp on with a bitten-back smile. “Really getting back to my roots here,” he said. “I still don’t think those guys believe I’m not, like, a medical doctor.”
“This one was from Olli,” Marlene informed him.
“Nevermind, it’s perfect and I love it. Nailed it, Halla.” Remus gave the camera a thumbs-up. “Ten out of ten.”
Take 4: Sirius Black
“What the [expletive]?” Sirius turned to face the room as he dug around blindly, bewildered. “Is this a jersey?”
He glanced inside and a laugh burst out of him.
“Is this my jersey? This is my jersey!”
Something fell onto the floor when he lifted the jersey and shook it out. Sure enough, a thickly-stitched,
Black
12
filled the back.
Sirius frowned. “Where’s my…wait, how old is this? Who got this?”
“Finn.”
“This is my rookie jersey.” He turned it around and checked the sleeves. “Yeah, this is—this is from my first year, what the hell? Where did you dig this up?”
“You dropped something.”
“Huh?”
Marlene must have pointed, because he looked down and immediately back up again with a soft groan.
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope!” Finn shouted from far, far away.
“I’ll [expletive] get you,” Sirius said, picking up a small pair of hairdressing shears to show the camera. He pointed them at Finn next. “You can’t hide in that doorway forever.”
Take 5: Olli Halla
“You’re way more excited about this than everyone else so far.”
Olli laughed, folding a piece of the wrapping paper in his lap. “I hate finding Halloween costumes. This is perfect. I never have time to find a good one. Ah!”
“What is it?”
“It’s pajamas!” he said, thrilled. He stood to hold it at its full length beside him: green fleece, enormous plastic eyes, and a zipper from crotch to neck. “It’s, um, haalari? I got teased for it a ton as a kid. Halla, haalari. Is this from Timmy?”
“Yeah,” Marlene answered, audibly surprised.
“We were talking about it the other day.A one-y?”
“Onesie.”
“And it’s a frog!” Olli shook his head, still laughing. “I’m bringing this on the next roadie. You’ll see me in it on the carpet. This is the best.”
Take 6: Timmy Jones
He paused with half his arm in the bag and made eye contact with someone off-screen. “Are these nylons?”
“No.”
Timmy raised one eyebrow. “Feels like nylons.”
“It’s from Cole.”
“Oh, we’re good.” He put a hand over his heart. “Phew. What did the duckling…oh!”
The child-size set of pink, glitter-coated fairy wings sent the room into a wave of giggling. He shrugged them on and sifted through the bag before coming up with a tiny golden crown on a headband.
He stood and gave a spin that shook the wings, grinning. “Bam. Wanda. Hottest fairy godmother on the block.”
“Is Reyes going as Cosmo?” Marlene asked.
“He better be.”
Take 7: Cole Reyes
“So—okay,” Cole began. “Full transparency, I already have a costume, but I figured it out after the deadline for this, so I was still eligible.”
“Can you explain the deal?”
“Basically, this is public shaming,” he said as he pulled the bag into his lap. “Anyone who didn’t have a costume by October first had to be part of the video. And Knutty cheated, ‘cause he’s reusing an outfit from a concert he was at this summer.”
“Twice!” Finn called.
“What?”
“He got the hat for Beyoncé, dyed it pink for Chappell Roan, and he’s dyeing it back for Halloween.”
Cole looked back to the camera and pointed his thumb in Finn’s direction. “See? Totally cheating.”
A felt beak emerged first, followed by a golden fleece body with fabric feathers glued to the arms. The feet took a minute of finagling to pull free: two enormous, slipper-like monstrosities of bright orange fleece stuffed like a plush toy. “It’s a duck,” Cole explained. He squeezed one of the feet and it gave a plasticky quack. “A really, really big duck.”
“Duckling,” Marlene corrected.
“Who was it?”
“Pots.”
Cole looked back at the onesie with a sigh. “You know, I don’t hate it. I froze my [expletive] off last Halloween. Not sure how the quacking-with-every-step is gonna go, though.”
“Olli got a onesie, too. A frog.”
“Olli could pull it off a lot better than me.”
Take 8: Jackson Nadeau
“That [expletive].” Jackson jabbed his index finger at someone by the far wall. “You. I have to wear this?”
“Yes,” Marlene answered.
“All of them?”
“Every single one!” Sirius called, gleeful.
“They signed them?” Jackson took a handful of cardboard circles out of the bag, then turned aside to laugh for a moment before digging out several more. “Oh my god…”
“Show us a couple,” Marlene said.
“Sorry, I’m…” He held his handful out in a wonky fan. “Okay, so, I think literally everyone on the team drew an eye on the front—can you see them all? This is incredible—and then they signed the backs with their, like, puck signatures.”
“You’re not allowed to sell them,” Sirius piped in. “For the record. It’s on video.”
“Boo. They’re all different, too, look. Did you guys have a coloring class or something? How did you get so many?”
“Not important.”
Jackson came up with a fresh roll of duct tape next, moving the bag to the ground so he could pile the cardboard eyeballs in his lap. “This is insane.”
“This is the most creative one we’ve had so far,” Marlene noted. “Nobody else’s was done by hand.”
“You mean nobody else got homemade eyeballs to tape to their body? Shocking.”
“Please don’t tape them to your skin,” Sirius said, sounding rather pained.
Jackson glanced over with a look of faux-innocence. “What do you mean? I thought I got a free wax with my Halloween costume that’s going to traumatize children?”
“You’re our last one of the day,” Marlene said. “Had to make it count.”
“Well, I definitely won’t forget a costume ever again.” Jackson picked up one of the eyeballs and held it up to the camera with a significant look. “Careful out there this holiday weekend, Gryffindor, and watch out for stray lions. I’ve got my eye on you.”
So after seeing this post from Hazel, this popped into my head and I couldn't help myself from writing it. Just a short lil blurb about surprise pets from Evgeni.
FYI: This one isn't tied to my other Nuny fics (so they don't their cats)
He should’ve known something was up when Zhenya was already gone when he woke up. Jackson was always the first one up, especially if it was one of their off days. There was usually a fight to get Evgeni to actually remove himself from their nest of blankets and pillows.
But today.
Today, the bed was empty of his sleepy boyfriend, and the house was quiet with just a text of “good morning! doing errand, be back soon. love you always.”
Jackson was automatically suspicious because what errand did he have to do on a Saturday morning? The text was unnecessarily vague, which didn’t help his suspicions. How did Evgeni even get up without waking him? Well, there was nothing to do about it now.
With a heavy sigh, he managed to drag himself out of bed in the hopes of finding something for breakfast.
Just as he finished scrambling his eggs, he heard the front door open. Jackson turned off the burner before heading into the living room, questions dying on his lips as he saw his boyfriend, frozen in the hall.
Jackson crossed his arms, leaning in the doorway of the kitchen, “Whatcha got there, Zhenya?”
Shuffling his feet a bit anxiously, Evgeni shrugged, “Coffee. From place you like down the street,” He said, holding the cup out to his boyfriend with his free hand.
Jackson raised an eyebrow as he took the cup, only because it looked like it may fall, “Yeah.. that’s not what I was talking about and you know it.” He set the cup on one of the side tables before taking what had to be one of the biggest puppies he had ever seen out from under Evgeni’s other arm.
“O-Oh, you mean Moose.”
Unable to hold back his laugh, Jackson sat on the floor with the now flailing pup as he tried to lick at the man’s face, “Yes, babe. I’m talking about Moose. And don’t think I don’t see the other one behind you. Evgeni! I thought we were going to wait until the end of the season before we even thought about getting a dog. Or dogs, should I say.”
Evgeni turned, picking up the other pup who was just a little bit smaller than the one crowding Jackson’s lap, “I know, but look! I get email from humane society about puppies, can’t not look. I see Moose and Poe on page, brothers 6 months old. Look how cute!” He said, pressing a kiss to the top of Poe’s head, the pup nuzzling into Evgeni’s neck.
“Of course, they’re very cute, Zhenya. They’re puppies!” Jackson said, unable to say no to the persistent Moose pushing his head at his hand for more scritches.
As he sat down on their hallway floor, Evgeni pulled Poe into his lap, “I know but I go there after practice one day when you train longer with Cap to meet them. And they curl up so nice in my lap, just cuddle me. How can I say no to these faces, Jackson? How can I not bring them to you? You tell me that.”
Jackson shook his head, “They’re going to get so big, Z. Great Danes are huge dogs. I already barely have any room on our bed as it is with you.”
“They have their own beds, big beds. And already potty trained! We keep them please?” Evgeni asked, his lower lip pushed out in a pout.
How was he supposed to say no with three pairs of puppy dog eyes looking at him?
Jackson let out a sigh, hugging Moose to his chest, “Well I suppose we have the room… and we were planning to get a dog anyway so-” Before he could finish his sentence, he was tackled, not only by the pups but by his boyfriend.
“Thank you, thank you, thank youuuu! Love you so much! Knew you’d say yes, got all the supplies in the car.” Evgeni smiled, the grin was so big it looked like it probably hurt his face.
Yeah, there was no way Jackson could’ve said no. He would do absolutely anything to see that smile on his boyfriend’s face.
And if their bed was a bit more crowded than usual that night, two dog beds empty on the floor of their bedroom, well. At least he was warm.
TW: Tattoo, making out, smut, piercing, if there is anything else just let me know :)
Baseball Boys meeting and falling in Love
What could go wrong… ;)
Beta: @punkkkkboi
Most Characters belong to: @lumosinlovelove
Chapter 15
Fizzing Whizbees Apartments, 2020
This was a familiar thing, Logan sitting on Leo’s lap as they tongue punched each other's faces on the couch while Tortilla sprawled out next to them grooming herself. They would stop a few times just to look at each other and giggle. Logan was moving unintentionally on Leo’s lap. Making him suffer more than Logan realized. Leo wasn’t hard yet so they didn’t stop but he was getting there.
Logan could tell because his lover was getting a bit turned on by just how red his face was. They got home about a week ago from the Ravenclaw tournament and Leo having been so busy with school they haven’t had a chance for them to just hang out one on one. That left Logan with an important question on his tongue. He has been thinking about asking Leo to move in for a while, he basically lives there anyway so he didn’t see the issue, except the apartment he lives in now is closer to his school. Yeah, it's only like a couple blocks closer but Leo doesn’t have a car or anything and Logan is gone in the morning’s a lot because he goes to lift at the stadium.
Leo pulls away and flops his head back over the back of the couch, panting and so so red. Logan smiles and leans forward, fitting his nose into the crook of Leo’s neck and leaving little wispy kisses. Leo lifts his hands from Logan’s hips up to his hair and takes it out of the bun he threw it up in earlier. His hair falls down and Leo just runs his fingers through the bottom half of his hair detangling it as gently as he can.
“You didn’t get hard this time.” Logan smiles and Leo can feel it on his neck.
“Too stressed.”
“Really?”
“Mhm, happens to the best of us.” Leo sighs and rests his cheek on Logan’s head. Logan feels so warm and smiley, he wishes they could stay like this forever. Then he remembers a promise Leo made in an elevator. Sitting up and placing his forearms on either side of Leo’s head and looking down at him. His eyes are closed and those light lashes are resting on his cheeks so softly, he notices how there are some lashes a lot lighter than the others. Reminds him of that weird white spot on his temple that has white hair.
“Can I see your tattoo?”
“You’ll have to sit up so I can take my shirt off.” Logan whines a bit annoyed. He didn’t want to move! He was comfy!
“Can’t you just roll up your sleeve?” Leo smiles and shakes his head, Logan gorans and sits up a bit. “Can I take off your shirt?” Leo opens an eye and nods, lifting his arms up. Logan flutters his fingers under the hem of Leo’s shirt and he feels him flex.
“You’re tickling me.” Logan laughs lightly and starts lifting up the shirt. He takes it all the way off and just stares at Leo’s arm. This tattoo was huge and creepy. “You look scared.”
“It’s just more creepy than I was expecting with all the… organs.”
“Yeah I can see that. Let me explain it.” Logan couldn't take his eyes off the ink, it had like hundreds of words in different languages in neat even rows going from his shoulder down to his wrist, there were spaces where two vertical pairs of eyes on the inside of his arm are. Two in the middle of his bicep and two in the middle of his forearm. “All the words are actually phrases, they are positive things I have said to myself over the years. Starting in Swedish, then the phrase is in Finnish, then Norwegian, then Icelandic, then Danish, then English, German, French, and finally Russian. That's why there are so many words. It's stuff like ‘I’m proud of you’ or ‘You’re okay’ stuff like that. The eyes represent how there have always been eyes on me since I was a baby. Whether it was caseworkers or baseball scouts. I’ve always been watched. Then if you look here.” Leo lifts his arm straight up and Logan sees on the back of his arm are still the words but also an anatomically correct heart on his upper arm and a correct brain on the back of his forearm. Logan noticed that the body parts were outlined in red as well as black, he can't remember if the eyes had it too. “Basically the heart and brain are there because my own feelings and thoughts have a tendency to contradict. Like too much. But I never knew which one to trust. Still don’t.” Leo puts his arm down and Logan reaches out to touch. The skin is still as soft as any forearm is but it's weird to watch his fingers run over what looks like ancient script on someone else's skin.
“Why get such a big tattoo if you are just going to hide it?”
“I got it for myself, I didn’t get it for everyone else.” Logan keeps running his hand all over Leo’s arm, like he doesn’t believe it's a real thing. Then he suddenly stops, looks into those pale eyes and finally asks the question.
“Will you move in with me?” Leo doesn’t even pause before he answers.
“Yes.”
They worked things out with Leo’s schedule, he would stay at Remus’ during the week and Logan’s during the weekends. It just worked the best that way. It took a few weeks for it all to fall into a good rhythm but they eventually got it. Remus would even stop by on friday nights and stay for dinner. Which was whatever Leo felt like making. Guy was a wizard in the kitchen but apparently made Remus cook for him all the time.
Leo has always wanted to go to a haunted house and pumpkin patch. He wanted to go into a corn maze and prove they were easy to get out of. He wanted to eat a fresh caramel apple and see if it was really as good as everyone said it was. He wasn’t a big fan of the flavor of pumpkin in sweets, he preferred carrot, but he was willing to try because he knows Logan loves sweet things.
Whether it was drinks or snacks, Logan loved sweets. He also loved scary shit, he and Noelle always bond over their love of horror movies and just Halloween in general. Having hashed out plans to get away from slasher characters on their living room floor when they were younger. Logan is driving to a pumpkin patch that has an orchard and a haunted house, he was taking Leo there as a surprise. This patch is one of the places Finn took him in his rookie year and he's gone back a few times a year, every year.
Leo has been exhausted lately and studying like crazy. He was currently asleep in the passenger seat with his well used notebook in his lap. He would wake up a bit whenever they would hit a bump in the road and fall right back asleep. Logan pulls up to a parking spot in the grass next to a big fuck off pick up truck and turns off the car. He unbuckles and shakes Leo’s shoulder.
“Leo, we are here.” Leo lifts up his head and blinks a few times sniffling and rolling his shoulders before looking at Logan.
“Where is here?” Leo’s accent was really thick because he was still sleepy and stretched his arms back over the headrest of his seat.
“Well, you mentioned wanting to go to a pumpkin patch so we are at one.” Logan smiles when Leo does and grabs his phone off the stand on the dash. “Let's go, I want to go to the haunted house first.” Leo nods and they get out of the car. They link hands and walk towards the small house separating the pumpkins and the apple trees.
The house was not scary in the slightest, Leo saw everything coming before it jumped out at them but he did love how Logan wouldn’t pay attention and get scared so he would cling to him. Leo fucking loved that so much. They exit the house and Logan is still wrapped around Leo’s arm.
“Still spooked?”
“I just need an excuse to be all cuddled up to you in public.” Logan looks up at him and smiles.
“Why do you need an excuse?” Leo squeezes his hand and looks down smiling just a little because he couldn’t help it.
“Well, we aren’t public and we never talked about it either.”
“How about we don’t worry about the media and just be a couple, hm?” Leo leans down and kisses Logan’s forehead.
“I… like that idea.” Logan cuddles up to him more and rubs his cheek on Leo’s arm. They walk over to a food stand that has everything to do with apples, getting cups of apple cider and Leo’s apple he wanted. It was wrapped in plastic and just plain caramel. Logan drags him over to the pumpkin stand and gets a pumpkin bar. They sit down at a picnic table and Logan just stares at the bar with frosting on it flexing his hands because he wasn’t given a fork. He hates, hates, sticky stuff on his hands. Leo meanwhile is focused on unwrapping his apple and taking a bite. It strings soft caramel when he takes it away from his face. It was pretty fucking good, setting it down on the plastic he takes a drink of his cider and frowns.
He did not like it. It was like hot cinnamon water and it was not enjoyable. He looks up at Logan who is just opening and closing his hands as he looks at his treat.
“What's wrong?”
“It’s going to make my hands sticky because I don't have a fork.”
“You don’t like that?” Logan shakes his head, Leo thinks for a moment.
“When Finn and I used to go get pretzels at the mall back in Harvard he would hold them and I would eat them so I didn’t get stuff on my hands.”
“Want me to do that? I don’t mind.” Logan looks up at his boyfriend and sees the soft smile with a bit of caramel on the corner of his mouth. Logan would wipe it off but… sticky.
“You would do that for me?” Logan just feels a warm feeling bloom in his chest and he puts his hands in his lap. That warm travels to his cheeks and he knows they are red but he could care less at this moment.
“Of course! Come here.” Leo pats his side of the table and Logan gets up and moves to the same side of the table. He puts a hand on Leo’s thigh and opens when Leo holds the bar up to his face taking a bite. Leo sets the bar down to take a bite of his apple again.
They continue this until their food is gone and Logan scarf down both their cups of apple cider. They go to pick apples, only getting a small bag full because Leo wants to make recipes with them. They go to pick out two pumpkins to carve and one to cook with. Leo picks out two smaller pumpkins and watches Logan pick the biggest fucking pumpkin and struggle to take it over to the til. Leo offered to carry it but Logan refused. Carrying it to the car and setting it on the trunk huffing.
“Don’t you lift like everyday?”
“Shut upppp!” Leo laughs and they put everything into the back of the car. They get into the vehicle to drive home and share a sweet kiss before they get buckled and start driving.
It was a good week.
Deathly Hallow Apartments, 2020
Before the door is even completely closed Kuny is against the wall with both of their bags at their feet. They are kissing frantically, hands grabbing wherever they can. Nado is basically trying to climb up his body. So, Kuny gives him what he wants and picks him up.
It wasn’t the most graceful thing in the world. They were mid-walk as he picked Nado up, causing him to stumble a bit, basically pinning the other man into the frame of his bedroom door. They pull away from their energetic smooching to laugh. Pressing their foreheads together Kuny adjusts his grip. Taking his friend over to the bed he tosses him onto it. Watching Nado bounce a bit while still laughing. Kuny climbs between his legs and feels Nado’s hands scramble to try and take his clothes off but Kuny grabs his wrists and just holds them for a moment.
“What’s wrong?” Nado is looking at him with those deep dark green eyes and a little bit of a flush on his cheeks, making his tan all that more glowy. There wasn’t anything wrong, he just liked to look. He also wanted to take things a bit slower, he didn’t want to hurt Nado and this was something completely new to him.
“Nothing. I just want to take my time with you. I don’t want to rush this.” He reaches over and lifts’s Nado’s shirt off him with ease. Tracing over all the wild ink and color. He was soft but also bumpy along his chest and shoulders but it reminded Kuny that Nado was indeed a human and not a god.
“Kunnnnnyyyyyy! You promised to fuck the life out of me!” Nado was tugging on his shirt and Kuny let him take it off him. He rolls his eyes and yanks Nado’s pants and underwear off before standing up and taking off the rest of his own clothes. He returns to his spot between those long legs. “Uns!”
“Sh! We need to do this right or else I’ll hurt you because… well.” Jackson watches Kuny gesture to his groin and rolls his eyes.
“Because of your massive cock, yes, I get it. But hurrrrryyyyy! I’m horny!”
“I can tell.” Kuny jokes and puts his arm up as a pillow from the massive pile behind them comes flying at his face. Hitting it to the side and laughing he leans down and kisses Nado, pulling away before they get to into the heat of the moment. He lets his eyes rake over Nado once more and stops when he notices a tattoo he has never seen before. He runs his hand in the crease of Nado’s thigh and pushes his left leg open. “Do you have a tattoo… near your dick?” Kuny just looks at the tattoo so confused, imagining the pain that comes from getting a tattoo in the crease of your thigh.
“Yeah, it’s a slug.”
“Why?”
“I thought he was cute! His name is Stanley.” Nado smiles up at him with pride and Kuny can’t help but let out an amused huff.
“You’re cute.” Kuny says and rummages around under the pillows on either side of the laughing man. He finds what he is looking for but loses his grip on it when he moves down Nado’s body. While Nado has his eyes closed from laughing he decides to give Nado a taste of his own medicine and swallow him down while he isn’t paying attention.
“UNS! FUCK! A LITTLE WARNING!” Jackson grips Kuny’s hair tightly, it was probably painful but he could care less at this very moment. Feeling his eyes unintentionally cross, he feels a heavy arm patting the bed next to him. He forces himself to focus and sees the hand trying to grab the lube that Kuny must have found under his pillow mountain earlier. Jackson picks it up, grabs Kuny’s hand and slaps the bottle in that large palm. When did Kuny even learn how to suck dick!?
Jackson can hear himself letting out breathy moans but he isn’t really paying attention to anything other than the man between his legs. He once again feels Kuny moving and Jackson helps him out, lifting his legs to rest over Kuny’s broad shoulders. He relaxes, stretching out completely with his hands stretched out over his head. Then he is less relaxed. He feel’s fingers around just where he wants them and feels a loud moan fall from his mouth as two thick fingers push into him.
Kuny was in heaven. He was listening to Nado moaning, for the first time not through their bedroom walls and it was from himself making Nado feel good. He used two fingers because he remembers talking to Nado about it one night when they were just watching shit TV on a sunday. Casual conversation, of course. Nado was crushing his head between his thighs and it was a wonderful feeling. He could feel his muscles tensing around his ears and fuck, was it addictive.
“Kuny, I’m gonna cum if you don’t-” Jackson was not a person who came easily but he hasn’t had sex in what felt like forever. When in reality it was about three months. He feels that magical mouth pull off his dick and he whines unintentionally. He feels those fingers keep moving at a steady and light rhythm.
“I’m doing four fingers.” Kuny looks up to see a confused look on Nado’s face.
“Now!?” Jackson did not realize there were more fingers added, was he really that far gone already?
“No,” Kuny chuckles and gives his inner thigh a small kiss. “ But that's what I will work up to because I really really don’t want to hurt you. Okay?”
“No, it's going to take forever!” He chokes on his words when he feels pressure on his prostate making his legs jerk in different directions and his back arch off the bed. “OKAY! Okay! Take your time.” He takes a deep breath and keeps up the pattern of deep breaths to keep himself from finding the edge too soon. Just trying to figure out how Kuny knows what he's doing.
Kuny worked him open for a few minutes, they were both sweating and Nado was twitching, gripping the sheets as his knuckles turned white. Kuny slides in another finger and Nado looks like he was about to have a stroke. So he completely stopped moving his fingers all together.
“KUNY! What the hell!?”
“I want to watch you move.” Kuny lifts himself up so he is resting most of his weight in his forearm that is placed just above Nado’s shoulder. He sees the other man turn bright red and flop his arm over his eyes. Grumbling as he slowly starts to move his hips. “Nado, look at me.”
It feels like Kuny is taunting him, so he lets out a huff and moves his arm from across his eyes to over his head, only to see those beautiful light brown eyes right in front of him.
They kiss and he feels himself turn into a melted ice cream puddle.
Kuny pushes in another finger knowing that Nado was ready for it a long time ago but he has been enjoying watching the other man just fall apart. Nado breaks their kiss to moan brokenly. Loving that sound he starts kissing up the taunt tattooed neck.
“Just like that.” Kuny mumbles into the sweaty skin as Nado keeps his hips moving on their own. Kuny takes over once again but is only able to move his fingers in and out once before Nado is grabbing his wrist making him stop moving. “You okay?” The concern in his voice makes Nado smile. He cares about him and it makes him so happy.
“Y-yeah, I just don’t want to cum when you aren’t in me.”
“... I’m literally inside you!”
“Not your fingers! Your cock!” Nado laughs a bit as Kuny chuckles into his neck. This pause has given him a bit of time to calm down and get away from the edge. Shivering as Kuny pulls his fingers out. He twists a bit to pop his hips and sighs as Kuny reaches into the side table to grab a condom and puts it on after throwing the wrapper over his shoulder. Kuny lubes himself up and wraps Nado’s legs around his waist, feeling him pull him closer. Obviously in a hurry to get fucked.
Jackson was trying to hurry Kuny the fuck up without words and instead is bracketed in with Kuny putting his hands one either side of his head and looking down on him with this expression of cockiness. Which he has never seen from Kuny before. It was sexy as hell.
“I’m taking my time with you for a reason. But once you get comfortable, you better hold on.” Kuny pushes in about a quarter of the way and watches Nado’s face contrast from surprise to eyes-rolled back in pleasure as his mouth falls open. He slowly starts rocking only a bit of the way in and out as he lets Nado get used to him. Rough hands wrap around his wrists and Nado is just panting under him. Kuny pushes a bit more in and Nado chokes again.
“Uns-”
“Deep breaths, tell me when you’re ready.” Kuny keeps his slow pace using one of his hands to brush the hair off Nado’s forehead. “You’re beautiful”
“You’re a fucking sap.” Jackson groans, looking up at Kuny who is staring back at him with the most loving look. That just makes him want to spill out those three words without hesitation… but he doesn’t. “Kuny-please!”
“Be patient” Kuny feel Nado’s heels digging into his booty trying to push him in more to bring him closer. So he gives Nado what he wants, how could he resist with a face like that. Kuny pushes in half way, leaning down to give Nado a sweet sweet kiss.
“Is that all of you?”
“Half”
“Oh thank GOD!” Jackson pushes his hips up and moans, wrapping his arms around Kuny’s neck pulling him in for more kisses. Laughing into the kisses, he makes the bigger man laugh as well, having a little giggle fit in the middle of them doing the horizontal tango. Seemed about right. Kuny pulls away and brushes the hair out of his face again because the mess-of-a-bun it's in has been flopping all over. His hands are sweaty so the hair gets a bit stuck to it and ends up pulling it a bit.
“Ow!”
“Sorry my hands are-”
“Do it again.” Kuny shakes his head a bit surprised and wants to say something but he doesn’t even know what to say. He just tugs lightly on that hair he loves so much, lacing his fingers in the bun. He pulls on his hair and pushes all the way in, with his hand pulling the hair holding Nado’s head back so his neck is completely exposed and he just goes to town sucking on those tattoos.
“ILOVEYOUILOVEYOUILOVEYOU-OHFUCK!” Kuny was pounding into him for a good few minutes until Jackson’s head got the best of him and he spurted out those words he wanted to save for a special occasion. But now that he thinks about it, this is a special occasion. Kuny just stops moving when the words sink in around them and it annoys the hell out of Jackson. “Kuny! Please move!”
Kuny does just that, pressing his face into Nado’s neck once again and just fucking the life out of him without stopping. No breaks, no pauses, nothing. He was going to show Nado that he loved him too even if he couldn’t get the words out at this very moment. Kuny feels Nado’s arm slide off from around him and go between them. His hips don’t slow down in the slightest. He was so close and he could feel it in his navel.
Jackson reached between them, he really wanted to try and cum untouched but with how Kuny was starting to sloppily move he realized the teddy bear wasn’t going to last long enough for that. Guess they would have to do this again. He smiles to himself at the thought and starts jerking himself off quickly, his moans were getting higher pitched. He throws his head back and grips Kuny’s shoulder with his free hand as Kuny thrust a few more times incredibly hard just the way he likes it.
They both cum around the same time and Kuny just puts all his weight on Nado, flopping his arms out.
“I’m hot.”
“Yes, you are. We should go again.” Jackson panted out not wanting this night to end.
“You’ll be too sore to do anything tomorrow.” Kuny mumbles behind his ear and kisses lightly.
“Only thing I’m doing tomorrow is getting my tiddies pierced, oh and my tongue.” Jackson shifts a bit to get his arms out from between them, resting them above his head to cool down.
“You still have to sit.”
“Maybe a little.” They both let out little amused breaths laying together in comfortable and sleepy silence.
The next morning Jackson is sitting on the piercing chair, he went a couple hours early to chat with Marlene as she tattoos some guys thigh, then makes his way over to Mary who is stenciling up a new tattoo for a client who texted her an idea, and finally Andy who was just eating a granola bar and was happy to talk to him. Ink came in late and she is his normal piercer. She looked like shit if he was being honest. Pale, sweaty and tired.
“Hi, sorry I’m late. It’s been a rough week. I had treatment a few days ago and just feel like shit.” She puts on her gloves and has him take off his shirt.
“Treatment? Are you sick? Is everything okay?” She shakes her head and starts disinfecting his chest working quickly before sitting down on her swivel chair and scoots next to him.
“No, June and I have been trying to have a baby for… a long time. It hasn’t been working.” She just looks so sad and he doesn’t really know how to respond and it appears she doesn’t want him to because she just gives him the rundown of after care for his new jewels. Then pierces him once he's ready.
Sometimes, the best plan is to throw away the plan and follow your heart.
Written for the wonderful, lovely, mabulous Mab as part of the discord server’s 2021 Secret Nootmas Fic Exchange. I hope these boys give you all the warm winter feels, Mab! <3
~
“Ba—what is it?”
“Humbug.”
“No, it start with B.”
“No, yeah, it’s bah humbug.”
“Is that real word?”
Jackson smiled, reaching up to fix the Dickensian nightcap that was starting to slide off Evgeni’s head. “Probably not.”
They were halfway through a shoot for the team’s annual holiday video, the room flooded with props, cameras, social media managers, and their costumed teammates. It was always a long, chaotic day, but a fun one—especially for the Lions, who had no real-life Scrooges on the roster. So far, Jackson had played an elf, a reindeer, and one of the bandits from Home Alone, but watching Evgeni do his Christmas Carol scenes was the highlight of his day. Just seeing him towering over everyone in the too-short nightgown and cap was hilarious, and he’d really been playing it up for the camera, making his face as mean-looking as possible.
Marlene, their director for the day, called for quiet, and a camera was pointed in Evgeni’s direction. Jackson stepped off to the side and watched him cross his arms, scowl at the lens, and deliver a perfect, “Bah humbug.”
He was still gazing in Evgeni’s direction when he felt a hand clap his shoulder. “Alright, Nado?” Pascal, dressed as Mr. Claus himself, said through the plush white beard that was covering half his face.
Jackson turned his head to the side to look at him. “Hey, yeah, alright.”
“Sure? Because you’ve been making eyes at Kuny all afternoon.”
An embarrassed flush spread over Jackson’s face even as he tried to laugh it off. “What? No I’m not,” he scoffed, crossing his arms. All Pascal did was raise an eyebrow, a grin still annoyingly visible through the beard. “I’m not,” Jackson added, smiling a little despite himself.
Pascal gave a noncommittal hum, turning his gaze to the makeshift set in front of them. “What are your holiday plans?” he asked, seemingly changing the subject. “Going anywhere?”
“Yep,” Jackson said, some of the color leaving his cheeks and his shoulders relaxing. “Canada-bound tomorrow.” Though you’d never know it looking at his and Evgeni’s apartment—not a suitcase in sight. Jackson wasn’t even 100% sure he’d checked into his flight yet.
“Home sweet home,” Pascal said, and Jackson just blinked at him for a moment because what came to mind when he heard home wasn’t his parents’ place in Victoria. It was the couch that was just barely large enough for Evgeni’s never-ending legs when he sprawled out next to Jackson during a movie. It was the fridge full of protein shakes and takeout containers. It was his rarely made bed next door to Evgeni’s neatly made one, used less and less often as the weeks went on and Jackson lost motivation to leave Evgeni’s room after a hookup.
“Mm,” Jackson finally said in vague agreement, eyes wandering to Kuny’s broad back for a moment. He saw Sergei, dressed as Frosty, say something to Evgeni that made him throw his head back and laugh that deep, rumbling laugh that made Jackson’s heart flip.
“Of course, Gryffindor is also nice this time of year.” His eyes met Pascal’s, who was already looking at him with a disconcertingly knowing grin. “A beautiful city to spend Christmas in with loved ones, non?”
Jackson narrowed his eyes. “What are you saying, Santa?”
Pascal shrugged. “Nothing, nothing at all,” he said, feigning innocence. “Just that, if you were to spend your week off here, that wouldn’t be so bad. Kuny isn’t going back to Russia until summer, right?”
“Right,” Jackson said slowly, ignoring the way his heart leapt at the idea. “But I already have plans.”
“Well,” Pascal said, giving another shrug, “I’m sure your parents would understand if you didn’t want to fly all the way there with a case of the flu.”
“I don’t have the—”
“Dumo Claus! We need you on set!” Marlene called with a wave. Sirius and Logan were already squeezed together in the back of the sleigh.
“Ouais, alright!” Pascal called back. He gave Jackson a wink over the brim of his half-moon glasses before heading off in their direction.
Jackson spent the rest of the shoot trying to ignore the temptation to fake an illness, cancel his flight, and spend the entire break with Evgeni. But now that Pascal had suggested it, it was impossible to forget. It was as though hearing it out loud gave Jackson’s heart some tacit permission to feel how much he wanted it, and now his desire was blooming in his chest, growing stronger by the minute.
He looked down at his phone and opened the airline’s app; his plane was already delayed by an hour. Taking it as a sign, he clicked the phone off and shoved it back into his pocket, ignoring the ‘check into flight’ option on the screen.
He wished his teammates happy holidays as costumes were shed and everyone grabbed their things to leave. Soon enough, he found himself standing next to Evgeni, who was back in his Lions hoodie and a pair of dark-wash jeans that were secretly Jackson’s favorite on him, hugging his strong thighs just enough to make Jackson want to peel them off.
“Good job today,” Evegeni said, sending Jackson a lopsided grin as he bent to pick up his duffel bag.
Jackson raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
Evgeni laughed at that, shaking his head without a moment’s hesitation. “No. Your acting is shit.”
Jackson punched his shoulder. “Your acting is shit,” he said, smiling. “At least our hockey is good.”
Evgeni hummed, waiting for Jackson to fish his car keys out of his coat before falling into step beside him as they headed for the arena’s parking garage. Jackson would drive home alone to scrounge some leftovers and pack while Evgeni went out with a few of the boys for a late dinner, then they’d say goodbye in the morning before Jackson drove to the airport. That was the plan. Had been the plan.
“Miss hockey when we on break, you know?” Evgeni mused aloud. He was walking so close to Jackson that their shoulders were almost brushing as they moved. Then he shot Jackson a sidelong glance and a smile that was a little bit sad. “Miss you, too, a bit.”
The plan was set. It was a fine plan.
Jackson’s heart sped up. “A bit?”
Evgeni’s smile turned wry. “A lot.”
Screw the plan.
They reached Jackson’s car, both of them lingering by the driver’s side door. Evgeni blew out a breath, a puff of white visible in the cold air between them. “Hey, look,” he said, looking off to the side where the garage opened to the outside world. “Snow.”
Jackson watched, too, as the white flakes fell steadily from the blue-black evening sky, just starting to thinly coat the street. “Kuns,” he heard himself say.
Evgeni turned back to look at him. The tip of his nose was just a little pink, though he always insisted that as a Russian native, he was impervious to the cold. The urge to kiss it welled up in Jackson like a tidal wave. He shoved his hands into his coat pockets instead.
When he didn’t say anything for a moment, Evgeni tilted his head. “Okay?”
“Yeah. I just…” Jackson met Evgeni’s eyes, a smile forming automatically. “I don’t—I’m not going to Canada for Christmas.”
Evgeni looked at him with confusion written on his face. “No?”
“No.” Jackson’s throat felt dry all of a sudden. “My family will see me in the summer, it’s fine. I want to stay here. With you. Like…together.” He scrubbed a hand over his red face. “Okay, say something, or I’m just going to keep embarrassing myself.”
When he looked back up, Evgeni was beaming. “Yes?” he said, stepping in close and bringing a hand up to Jackson’s cheek. Jackson could feel the heat radiating off his body, could hear that his breathing had sped up. “You want?”
Jackson leaned into the touch. “I really do. Do you?”
Evgeni spared a quick glance around the garage, then leaned down and kissed him hard. “So much,” he murmured, still smiling at Jackson like they’d just won another championship. “You want from now on, yes? To be boyfriends?”
“Yeah,” Jackson laughed, pulling him into a hug. “Thanks for saying it. Apparently my confessions are shit, like my acting.”
Evgeni pressed a kiss to his temple before they broke apart. “Not that bad, maybe,” he teased, “But worse than your hockey for sure.”
It might not have gone to plan, Jackson thought as he followed Evgeni’s car back to their apartment, but maybe there didn’t always need to be one. Maybe just knowing that tonight would mean falling asleep tangled up in Evgeni’s arms was enough. Everything else would come later, and they would meet it when it did, side by side.
Here’s a little self-indulgent Nuny fic because, let’s be real, this holiday was made for them.
CW: food
Characters belong to @lumosinlove
Enjoy!🪐
“Jackson,” Evgeni whispered, shaking his boyfriends shoulder in an attempt to wake him up. If there was one thing that Evgeni had learned was that Jackson might just be the deepest sleeper he had ever met.
“Jackson,” he tried again, shaking him with a bit more force this time. Jackson began to stir, lifting his face from where it was smushed against the pillow.
“What?” He asked, voice still groggy with sleep. Evgeni smiled.
“May the fourth be with you,” he giggled.
“I love you, but it is,” Jackson pushed up so that he could see the clock that was on the bedside table by Evgeni, “half past five in the morning. Tell me this in a few hours.” He flopped back down and fell back asleep.
Evgeni pouted slightly, upset that his boyfriend wasn’t as excited about this monumental holiday as he was. He lay there for a while, unable to get back to sleep so he woke up and trotted downstairs.
Jackson woke up a couple of hours later to an empty bed. Whilst he knew he slept better than Evgeni, Evgeni would usually stay in bed until he started to stir. He sat up, stretching his arms over his head, back cracking like a glow stick.
Faint music could be heard from downstairs. Jackson strained his ears a little more to try and make out the music.
“Is that...” Jackson climbed out of bed, pulling on bottoms and one of Evgeni’s jumpers and made his way downstairs. He could only laugh at what he was met with.
Sure enough, Princess Leia’s Theme was playing, which only meant that Evgeni was working his way through his Star Wars playlist. He could smell the faint smell of waffles coming through from the kitchen and allowed his nose to lead him through.
He let out a hearty laugh, and had to rest his hands on his knees to stop himself from falling over.
Evgeni was stood there in front of the waffle machine, waffle batter all over him and his Wookie apron.
“What the-“
Evgeni looked up at him with puppy dog eyes.
“They went wrong. I not know how,” he confessed, shrugging his shoulders and hands up, spilling a bit more batter as he did so.
Jackson walked over to him and removed a bit of batter from Evgeni’s face with his finger and licked it off. He placed a kiss where the batter used to be. He looked down at the counter as he wrapped an arm around Evgeni’s waist. He couldn’t help but laugh at the fact that Evgeni had purchased a waffle machine that made waffles into the shape of the Millennium Falcon.
“How could you possibly make this much mess. It’s waffles!” Jackson laughed. He felt Evgeni shrug next to him.
“I fall out with mixer,” he said softly, trying to hide his embarrassment. Jackson could only laugh again as he stood on his tip toes to place a kiss on Evgeni’s cheek.
“May the Fourth be with you, babe.”
Evgeni smiled back down at him.
“May the Fourth be with you. Now please help,” he laughed.
Jackson shook his head as he reached for the spray cleaner, wiping down all the batter from the counter and reached for the bowl that Evgeni had made the batter mix in. He made quick work of making the recipe he knew by heart, aware of Evgeni watching his every move lovingly behind him.
Jackson poured a portion of the batter into the waffle machine and closed the lid, looking back at Evgeni.
“See, wasn’t that hard, was it?” Jackson teased.
Evgeni pouted slightly at him, feigning hurt. Jackson only chuckled slightly, walking over to him and enveloping his face in his hands.
“I’m joking, baby. Thank you for trying to make waffles this morning.”
Evgeni smiled and kissed him just as the waffle maker dinged.
Jackson opened it up and Evgeni laughed.
“I have been waiting for you, Obi-Waffle. We meet again, at last. When I left you, I was but the learner; now I am the master,” Evgeni whispered as he looked over the waffle.
Jackson choked on air.
“Ev, what the fuck!” He laughed.
“May the Fourth be with you!” Evgeni smiled in response.
Regulus liked the cubs. Finn was a little out there maybe, but Logan, off of the ice at least, was steady and put together.
Leo had snorted when he’d told him what he thought. “Interesting take.”
They didn’t seem to mind having him around, although there wasn’t much time lately when Regulus didn’t feel like an intruder on something. Living in his brother’s house when he probably wanted to be alone with Remus. Leo inviting him over to nights that would probably feel and go differently if he wasn’t there.
But he didn’t feel unwelcome. Just out of place. Which was surprising, given the fact that he was a Snake. Had been. He still felt like he was one, anyway. A Snake. An intruder. Out of place.
And now the Lupins were here to stay and Regulus was self-aware enough to realize that he was seeing for the first time what was probably the most loving family in the entire world.
“Julian, sweetheart, you have to let Sirius rest. He’s got some big days coming up, as you well know.”
Julian looked up at his mother.
Regulus wasn’t sure if Julian liked him all that much yet. Although, he didn’t really blame the kid. When you were little, the rivalries seemed like a full-blown military crises. That was how the Lions had seemed to him, at least. A real beast, with sharp teeth. He imagined that, for Julian, he had venom and a tail that rattled.
“But—” Julian looked up at Sirius, who was playing goalie in one of the make-shift nets that he had set up in the living room.
“It’s okay, Hope,” Sirius said. “We’ll go another half hour.”
“You’ll go until dinner, which is in ten minutes,” Hope said.
“Well, it that case, bud, we should go help set the table, non?” Sirius stood straight from his goalie-crouch. “We can play more later.”
“Really?” Julian said, clutching his hockey stick.
“Mais, oui. Allez, let’s go help your dad and Re.”
It left Regulus alone with Hope in Sirius’ large living room. Hope was a mother. Regulus didn’t know how to put her smile and that role together yet. He watched her put her hands on her hips and look around. Even Regulus had to admit that the living room was mostly empty and bland. Sirius clearly didn’t know what to do with a house besides sleep and eat there.
“Well,” Hope said, and then smiled at Regulus. “Needs some brightening, huh?”
“Probably.”
Hope nodded. “Probably. Come on, let’s eat.”
Regulus followed her through to the dining room where Lyall was setting plates of salmon and rice down, along with a large salad. As Sirius sat down, Julian all but climbed over Remus to get the chair beside him. Remus’ eyes found Regulus’, maybe by accident, but he smiled, and Regulus did, too, a little. Regulus gestured to his own chair, on Sirius’ other side, and moved across the table instead. He sort of wanted to sit beside Hope, anyway. He wasn’t sure why.
“Here you go, sweetheart,” Hope said, passing him a glass of water and a bread roll.
“Thank you.”
Family dinners had not been like this. He found Sirius’ eyes, and the thought seemed to pass between them.
Really, the place was crawling with families. Not Sirius’ house, but Gryffindor. Hogwarts Arena. Regulus had watched Logan be practically tackled by someone who could only have been Leo’s mother, with her bright blond hair. Leo’s father, also blond, had walked right up to Pascal, shaking his hand. He had a sharpie in his back pocket and a wide smile. Finn also looked just like his mother. Haley O’Hara and her dark red hair, cropped in a pixie cut, shared her sons’ easy smiles, but her startling blue eyes were her own. Ramsey O’Hara was dark haired and brown eyed, and always video taping. Alex had been wearing a Heart-throb-O’Hara t-shirt. Marius and Iva Tremblay were quieter, but Iva looked just like her son, and kept pulling Logan into her arms, her eyes almost relieved when they looked at her son’s smile. The Tremblay sisters were anything but quiet.
Regulus, while surrounded, had tended to keep close to one wall. The quiet kindness of the Lupins was welcomed.
Regulus also kept to himself during dinner, listening to the conversation and taking seconds—and thirds—of the food.
“Hungry teenage hockey player,” Lyall laughed, raising his wine glass towards Regulus. “That’s something I remember, eh, Remus?”
Remus smiled and glanced at Sirius. “I don’t think the hungry part stops after teenage years, dad.”
Sirius glanced up, mouth full. “No, it doesn’t.”
Regulus smiled, watching as Julian seemed to be trying to time his own bites with Sirius’. He remembered being that obsessed only, back then, it was just a little brother thing, not a Captain Sirius Black thing.
“So,” Hope said, leaning on her elbows and lacing her fingers. “For the dinner tomorrow. Re, why don’t you and Sirius go get the food?”
“Please let me go with,” Julian said. “Please, please, mom.”
“You’re on house duty with me. Plus, Remus and Sirius will be going right from morning skate, so—”
“He can come to morning skate with us,” Sirius said.
Remus nodded. “Yeah, mom, it’s no problem.”
“You’ll both be working, who would—”
“I don’t need to be watched, mom,” Julian begged. “Please let me go.”
“Julian, it’s not a babysitter, it’s just that—”
“I can…” Regulus glanced around. “Not watch him, but…we can hang out.”
The table went a little quiet. Regulus felt a little dizzy, like someone was going to swing at him. He knew that wasn’t true.
“I’ll probably go to the rink and watch, anyways,” Regulus continued into the quiet, looking at Julian, then Hope. “I’m going out with Leo after, so.”
“Leo Knut?” Hope said and then smiled. “Oh, I’m so glad you two are friends.”
Everyone kept saying that.
“Well, Jules?” Hope said. “Alright?”
“Okay,” Julian said hesitantly, eyes on Regulus. Regulus flashed him a tight smile and then looked back down to his plate.
He volunteered for clean up duty, just so he didn’t have to make conversation. It wasn’t awkward, but he wasn’t used to these laughter filled living rooms. He wasn’t used to Sirius’ laugh. It threw him off guard.
“Regulus?”
Regulus looked up from the sink to see Remus behind him in the kitchen window’s reflection. He was all shades of night, until Regulus turned around and he was warm again. Remus looked almost nervous, leaning back against the refrigerator.
“What’s up?” Regulus said.
“I just,” Remus glanced down the hallway, then shrugged. “I know Julian’s…not exactly warmed up to you. Thank you for offering anyway.”
Regulus turned back around to the soapy water. “Don’t worry about that. I get it. I’d probably be the same.”
“It’s just that, it isn’t you. It’s—”
“Remus, I know what it’s like to be brought up in a hockey household. There’s a whole lot of loyalty. And sometimes loyalty doesn’t change easily,” Regulus glanced back once more. “Don’t worry. I understand. I’m a Snake right now. He’s a Lion. I’m someone who betrayed their brother, and he’s someone who loves his brother more than anything.”
He could feel Remus’ eyes on his back.
“I understand,” he said again, and turned the water back on.
“Well, thank you again. I think you guys will like each other a lot.”
Regulus nodded. “I hope so.”
~
It was the Lions’ last practice before they would get on a plane for game one against the Snakes. Regulus knew he would be taking a risk, traveling with the team there. But he wanted to show that he wasn’t afraid. Part of him even hoped that he ran into Snape, or Riddle, or Malfoy, or any of them. Just to show that he was better off. The other part of him didn’t want to care what they thought.
Regulus could picture the stadium and the entire, green crowd that hissed and cheered. With the drums of the music, a single spot-light would appeared on the ice, and with each successive beat, one of three very familiar words. The Snakes’ motto.
ALWAYS
PURE
HOCKEY
Toujours pur, Regulus could remember his father saying to them growing up, accompanied by the slap of pucks against the boards, and endless drills. Toujours pur, toujours pur—
Someone tapped his arm, and Regulus looked up to meet Leo’s gaze. He was lacing his skates.
“Ça va?” he said, which made Logan look up.
“Oui,” Logan said, then noticed Leo looking at Regulus, not him. “Oh. Ça va?”
“I hope you beat them,” Regulus said. “That’s all.”
“Well, yeah,” Logan laughed, wrapping tape around his socks tightly. “Me too.”
“Regulus,” Julian came up to them. He was in a Tremblay jersey today and Logan wrestled him into a gentle headlock, making him laugh before looking back up at Regulus. “Sirius is going out to warm up can we please go watch?”
Leo smiled. “Take him out.”
Regulus couldn’t help but smile a little, too. “All right. Allez.”
Sirius was doing shooting drills, rubbing absentmindedly at his healed ribs. It was nice to be around the sounds of the ice again. Sirius’ basement didn’t count.
Remus was on the bench, sitting on the boards with his feet dangling near the ice. Every once in a while, Sirius would swoop by for a kiss, or to say something that made Remus laugh. The other boys were filing out slowly. Finn and Logan were passing a puck back and forth while Leo dropped into the splits, stretching and talking to them. Evgeni and Jackson were ramming each other into the boards and laughing. The atmosphere would change once Coach came out, but Regulus now knew that it wasn’t like in Slytherin. There was never any silence. The laughter never went away, not even when they were working hard.
“Why did you leave?” Julian asked suddenly. He was standing nearly pressed against the glass, watching. They made eye contact in the slight reflection from the lights. He looked just like his older brother, something people always said to Regulus, too.
“I…” Regulus took a breath. “I wanted to leave.”
“Why?”
“I wanted better for myself,” Regulus said carefully. “I think we should always want the best for ourselves, non?”
“What if you can’t have the best? My brother wanted to play hockey.”
Regulus glanced over at Remus, laughing as Kasey squirted him with his water bottle, and thought of the right words.
“What’s best isn’t always attached to a thing or a person?” he tried. “Sometimes it’s a good attitude. What I meant was, I thought I was stuck. Then, my brother showed me I wasn’t.”
“So, Sirius is the best for you?”
“Sirius showed me that I could be the best for me. But, oui, Sirius is pretty great. So is your brother.”
“I know that,” Julian said, and rested his forehead against the glass again. He was quiet, and then, “You said bad things about Sirius. I saw it on youtube.”
Regulus chewed on his cheek. “Yeah.”
“But then you said good things.”
“Yeah.”
“Did you say sorry?”
Regulus swallowed. “Yeah.”
“That’s good.”
Sirius skated up fast and hard and stopped in front of the glass, knocking his helmet over where Julian had his forehead. Julian laughed and knocked gently back.
“Ça va?” Sirius asked, glancing at Regulus.
“Oui,” Julian replied and Regulus nodded.
“Hey Jules,” Sirius said, loudly to be heard over the noises of practice. “Tell Reg to make you un sandwich de la rondelle in the kitchen.”
He skated away with a grin at Regulus, who couldn’t help but smile back. The words brought back a memory that he hadn’t thought about in a long time. It left Julian looking half expectant and half skeptical.
“Allez,” Regulus sighed as he pushed himself up from his seat. “I’ll let you in on a Sirius Black tradition.”
“Okay,” Julian grinned.
The Lions kitchen was a strange sense of déjà-vu. It was the Snakes’, only awash in brighter colors.
“What’s a sandwich…sandwich ron…”
“Sandwich de la rondelle,” Regulus repeated, opening cupboards until he found bread and peanut butter, and swiping a banana from the counter.
“It’s a peanut butter and banana sandwich,” Julian said.
“Oui, sort of. But—Les bananes,” Regulus held up the fruit. “Sirius use to fry them in cinnamon and honey and then they would become darker because they’re caramelized. They would look like little hockey pucks, or la rondelle.”
“I want one,” Julian said. “Please.”
Regulus laughed. “I thought you might.”
~
Sirius watched from the bed as Remus pulled on a long sleeved white shirt. The cotton clung to his strong shoulders and he shook the sleeve out over his watch. Sirius could see his star necklace through the thin fabric. Remus pushed his sandy hair off of his forehead and looked up at the shelves again, patted his dark jeans, and then turned the closet light off. He stopped when he stepped out and raised an eyebrow.
“That’s not exactly what I call dressed for guests who are showing up in—” he looked at his watch. “ten minutes.”
Sirius stretched out against the bed. “You look good, Loup.”
“I’m wearing jeans and a shirt.”
“I said you look good, I don’t care what you’re wearing.”
Remus smiled and knelt on the mattress. “Then in that case, you look good, too.”
“I’m naked.”
“Then what’s that on your face?”
Sirius groaned. “It’s tradition.” He touched the dark beard on his cheeks and chin. He was keeping it short and neat, rather than letting it grow wild like some of the other guys, but he still felt a little self-conscious. “It isn’t that bad…”
Remus crawled forward until he was poised over Sirius’ body. “You know you look good.” He leaned down to brush a kiss over Sirius’ cheek, feeling the coarse stubble against his lips. “But this place is going to be filled with families in two seconds.”
“Hm,” Sirius leaned up to kiss Remus’ throat, and Remus felt the scratch there, too.
“Parents,” Remus warned.
Sirius kissed along Remus’ jaw.
“Dumo.”
Sirius sighed. “We should get dressed.”
Sirius, forced into a pair of tight jeans and a button down by Remus, opened the front door to see Pascal standing there with Katie on his shoulders.
“Bonsoir,” Pascal said. “I come bearing hungry children and the most beautiful woman in the world.”
Sirius laughed and Celeste slapped Pascal’s chest. “Well, there’s a Leo Knut cooking with a Hope Lupin so I think we’ll be able to help with that.”
“Is Logan here?” Adele said, pushing her way past her family.
“Yeah, living room. What, don’t care about me anymore?”
She rolled her eyes and gave him a hard hug before disappearing into the house.
Celeste gave Sirius a smile, looking after Adele. “We are still missing Logan being just downstairs. You were a hard loss, too, you know.”
“Tremzy,” Katie said and pointed forward.
Logan appeared with Adele under his arm and Pascal ducked down so Logan could take Katie into his arms.
“Salut, Katie,” Logan pressed kisses to her cheeks until she laughed.
Sirius watched them wander off towards the kitchen and then looked back at Celeste. “I think it goes both ways.”
“I am going to see if the chefs need any help,” Celeste said, and followed Logan and her daughters towards the kitchen.
Sirius watched them for a moment, and then turned back to Pascal. “Where are Louis and Marc?”
“Sleepover,” Pascal laughed and stepped inside, handing Sirius a bottle of wine. “I guess playoffs aren’t that cool anymore. Katie seems to like hockey the best.”
“She’d make a killer center.”
Pascal scoffed. “Killer, eh? Been hanging out with Remus.”
Sirius smiled. “Of course.”
“What about your younger one?”
Sirius closed the door and the warmth of the house picked up again. “With the younger Lupin down at the rink.”
“Oh? They are friends now?”
“I was surprised, too.”
Pascal patted Sirius’ back as they came through to the kitchen. “Kids are quick to forgive.”
“Blow on the spoon first,” Leo was saying to Katie. “So you don’t burn your tongue, and then tell me what you think.”
Logan laughed softly, kissing Katie’s cheek again. “Our entire dinner is riding on you, mon coeur.”
Sirius watched as Katie blew very carefully on the waiting bolognese sauce, and then let Leo feed her the spoon while she held onto Logan’s neck. His eyes found Finn next, who had a look on his face that Sirius knew well. Sirius looked at Remus, holding a glass of wine and talking to Eloise Knut and Hope.
Sirius could get used to this.
“Where are your parents, Dumo?” Sirius asked.
“I’ll fly them out when we win,” Pascal smiled, knocked on Sirius’ head, and then put a hand on his shoulder. “You know… Sometimes I want to shove you back in my basement and never let you out. But then I remember you’re not the same boy you were.”
One corner of Sirius’ mouth lifted. “That would be threatening, coming from someone else.”
“Yes, but you know what I mean.”
“Ouais,” Sirius said, and put his hand over Pascals. “I know.”
“This has been a hard season. Your team is going to work hard for you.”
“Pascal,” Sirius said softly.
“Dumasha,” Sergei’s gruff voice called, and he appeared beside them, clapping Pascal on the back. “Come play bubble hockey with me. I’m beating all the kids. Omg.”
“No, he’s not,” Thomas yelled.
“I’ll win,” Pascal warned.
“We’ll see, you lumberjack,” Sergei patted Pascal’s thick beard before retreating back towards the living room.
Pascal tussled Sirius’ hair once before following, and Sirius watched him go. His memories of living with the Dumais’ felt at once distant and like yesterday. The earliest ones were covered with ice. He had been terrified of his own family and his new one. The later ones went from ice to slowly melting frost to new, spring soil. Pascal had done that. And Celeste and the kids. And Arthur, and the team.
Remus.
Sirius walked over to where he was standing with the two women.
“Well, if it isn’t Sirius Black,” Eloise smiled and kissed him on the cheek. “Hi, honey.”
Sirius, a little surprised, laughed. “Hi, Mrs. Knut. Hope.”
“Hello, sweetheart,” Hope said. “Nice party we have here.”
“Thanks to you and Remus.”
“Oh,” Hope laughed and rubbed Sirius’ shoulder. “You have a beautiful house, it should be filled with your loved ones. A truly beautiful house…”
“Mom,” Remus laughed. “You can stop telling Sirius his house is beautiful.”
“Then I’ll tell him he’s beautiful. And probably so will your father. Sirius, my husband loves you.”
“Tell me about it,” Eloise said. “Wyatt’s walking around with a sharpie, so if you see him be ready.”
Sirius huffed out a laugh. “I’m ready.”
“He loves you. Not as much as Jules, of course,” Hope said.
Remus gestured to himself. “Um.”
“Of course, not as much as Remus,” Hope and Eloise smiled at each other. “I’ll leave you two. I’m going to find that Potter baby.”
Eloise hummed. “I’m gonna go convince Leo’s boys to move home with him for the summer.”
Remus smiled. “I don’t think you’ll have too hard a time.”
“Oh, I know I won’t.”
Sirius pulled Remus against his side, leaning back against the wall to look out at the scene that the kitchen was. Remus settled against him.
“You know,” Remus began, and then cut off.
“Quoi?” Sirius asked. He looked down at Remus’ thoughtful smile.
“Whether or not things…happen…”
Sirius laughed, knowing that this was Remus’ way of getting around setting him off in a round of superstition.
Remus looked up at him. “We’re doing pretty great.”
“I was just thinking that.”
“Good.”
Remus tilted his chin up, obviously wanting a kiss, and Sirius complied.
“I can’t believe we’re getting on a plane tomorrow,” Sirius sighed.
“Is Regulus still coming?”
Sirius nodded grudgingly. “No matter how many times I tell him it might be a bad idea. Even Minnie says—”
“He lost his rookie season,” Remus said. “I think he needs to be a part of this.”
“He’ll get—harassed by reporters.”
“So will you, and you’re still going.”
Sirius smiled and pulled Remus in closer, wine glass pressed carefully against the small of his back as he looped his arms around him. “That’s different.”
Remus wrinkled his nose. “Is it?”
“I’m the Captain. I’m just worried.”
“A true Captain’s job,” Logan said as he passed them, Timmy and Olli in tow.
“I am,” Sirius said after them, and when he looked back down it was to be kissed by Remus.
“Dinner!” Leo shouted, Hope beside him putting a stack of plates out. “Y’all come get it.”
“I’m gonna die,” Finn sighed, stopping beside them. “The accent is so here right now and I’m just—I’m gonna die.”
“Harzy, are you talking to us?” Remus asked.
Alex looked up from where he was standing with Kasey and Natalie. “Just ignore him, he’s a fucking puppy.”
“I’m pep-talking myself,” Finn took a long sip of his drink. “For life.”
Alex patted his back. “Okay, Fish, get it together.”
“Stop yelling at me.”
“I’m not yelling at you.”
“You’re yelling. I’m telling mom.”
Alex scoffed as they walked towards the food. “You can’t tell mom.”
Sirius snorted and pulled Remus away towards the plates to serve themselves.
~
Game one was rough and fast and disappointing. When Sirius had first skated out, the hisses had been deafening. Remus had watched from the bench with his nails digging into his palms. The Snakes had won 3-0. Close, but not enough. Kasey had made forty saves. Elias Cook had taken a puck to the knee and Remus knew even before evaluating him that he might be out for the run. Snape had been vicious. But so had Sirius. The locker room had been crowded, the families wonderful but adding pressure, and Remus was more than happy to watch Sirius collapse on their hotel bed. He was still in his game suit, but it was rumpled. The steely color had faded as the adrenaline did, and he looked tired.
“Fuck,” Sirius sighed, and raised his chin to look at Remus. “Why are you standing over there? C’mere.”
Remus laughed and chucked his bag down before falling beside Sirius onto the bed.
“Hell of a game,” Remus said. “It’s just one game.”
“Yeah,” Sirius replied, and then was quiet. “Riddle’s a good goalie.”
“So is Kasey.”
“No, I know, I just… we really couldn’t get a single shot in. I’m just happy we weren’t at home. God, Kasey’s probably just…kicking himself right now.”
“Nat’s here. And his family. She’ll talk some sense into him.” Remus said. After a moment, he groaned and sat up again. “Speaking of home, we should pack for the flight back tomorrow.”
Sirius groaned. “Come back.”
Remus laughed. “We have to be out the door at six tomorrow, and I know you won’t want to get up early to do it then. Just put your suit away, that’s all you brought anyway.”
“I just played an entire hockey game.”
Remus suppressed a smile as he took one of Sirius’ ankles and pulled off his shoe. “The world doesn’t know you’re like this.”
“Non.”
“I could tell them, you know.”
Sirius laughed. “That you undress me?”
Remus smiled. When both shoes had clunked to the floor, he straddled Sirius’ hips, hands going to his belt. “You’re right, maybe not.”
Sirius smiled and let his head fall back with a groan. “Fuck.” Remus let Sirius pull him down against his chest. “You’re so hot, but I’m so tired.”
“Oh, no way we were not about to have sex. You are waking up at six in the morning and you’re playing the game of your life the next night.”
Sirius let out a content sigh. “Hm.”
Remus pressed a kiss to his neck and then reached for the buttons of his shirt.
“I think we have to go to the net harder,” Sirius said thoughtfully as Remus pulled him into a sitting position.
“I think we need to get a handle on our power play,” Remus said, pushing Sirius’ shirt over his broad shoulders. He kissed those, too. “I think Coach should put Finn back on it. He’s ruthless when he wants to be.”
Sirius hummed. “Yeah. Him and James do well together, too. Will you murder me if I watch some tape?”
“You’re going to sleep.”
“I just want to see that second period play. You know—”
“Tremz was off-side and, no, Carrow didn’t push him,” Remus smiled when Sirius made a face. “Believe me, it happened right in front of me.”
“We were going to score.”
“I know,” Remus bent to kiss the scar on Sirius’ cheek, then the one on his lip. “But that’s hockey.”
Sirius kicked his pants off once Remus stood to go to his own suitcase. “I wish we had come out of the gate strong, that’s all.”
Remus snorted, tugging off his shirt. “Nice media lingo, there.”
Sirius rolled onto his stomach with a groan, then pushed himself into a standing position. A moment later, Remus felt his chest against his bare back, their skin warm against each other.
Sirius’ hands stroked over Remus’ sides, dipping into the muscle that cut along his hips. “You haven’t even asked me how my ribs are,” Sirius said against Remus’ temple. Remus could hear the smile in his voice. “You always ask.”
“I know you’re better,” Remus leaned against him, tilting his head to the side when Sirius began to kiss his neck gently. He put his hands over Sirius’. “I know we didn’t win, but you were amazing tonight.” He turned in Sirius’ arms and wound his fingers in his dark hair. "You see everything out there, huh?”
“I try,” Sirius said softly.
“You do,” Remus kissed him, then again and again. “Don’t get in your head, baby. You’re good.”
Sirius let out a breath, lips against Remus’ cheek. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Remus wrapped his arms around Sirius’ waist and held him there.
“Just tape for, like, ten—“
Remus pressed in closer. “Nope.”
Sirius’ laugh rumbled against his cheek. “Come to bed with me, then.”
~
It was better to be back in Gryffindor. Remus didn’t want to admit how much of a weight it was off of his chest to be away. To have the team away, and Regulus. It had been fine. Regulus hadn’t been bothered. Not yet, at least. They would be on a plane back to Slytherin tomorrow, win or lose.
“Shitter-McFucks,” Thomas said loudly. “We gotta win this game.”
“Where do you come up with these things?” Sergei sighed.
“I don’t know,” Thomas said, and he looked thoughtful. “They come to me. Makes sense though, right?”
Sergei made a barely affirmative sound and returned to taping his stick.
“T,” Remus said, smiling a little at the conversation. He held out Thomas’ shoulder pads. “Fixed it.”
Thomas took it and clutched it to his chest. “Sick, thanks, Loops. I love you.”
Remus smiled and turned to the room. “Does anyone need anything?”
There were a few murmurs of no, and Remus let out a breath. “Okay.”
Remus glanced at his watch. Twenty minutes until they had to be out for warm ups. Sometimes it was strange, thinking about the Snakes in this very building, doing the same thing they were. Taping sticks, getting dressed, stretching. Remus’ eyes found Regulus, who was sitting in Sirius’ stall while Sirius stretched out on the floor. They were talking intently, no doubt about the game. Regulus seemed to be drawing plays out on his palm, Sirius nodding along, then pointing, as if to correct something. Remus smiled at the sight, then walked over and crouched by Sirius’ shoulder.
Sirius looked up, hands around his ankles stretched in front of him. “Hi.”
“Hi,” Remus replied, and glanced at the door.
Sirius blinked. “Oh.”
“And I’m out,” Regulus sighed and stood.
Sirius stood, too, adjusting his snapback and catching Remus’ fingers. “Yes, yes, now?”
“I thought you could use a pick-me-up.”
Sirius cursed under his breath, grinning. “Re…”
He already looked flushed with it—with just the thought—and Remus wanted him. Badly.
Sirius was on his heels until they got to the PT room, looking carefully out into the hallway before shutting the door and turning the lock. He was still smiling when he turned, gently taking hold of Remus’ hips and backing him against the exam table.
“I love you,” he said into his first kiss, and then, into the second, “how do you want me?”
Remus hooked his fingers into the band of Sirius’ spandex and turned them so that his back was against the table, cushioned by the padding. Sirius leaned down to kiss along Remus’ neck.
Remus reached down to cup Sirius’ cock through the thin material of his spandex. “Just like this.”
“Jesus,” Sirius breathed. “Fuck, we—how much time?”
“We have time.”
Remus knelt on one knee, then the other. He pulled the spandex away to reveal Sirius’ cock, half hard but twitching as it filled. Remus’ heart beat faster, his own cock beginning to press out against his thigh.
Sirius’ hand was gentle against the back of Remus’ head as he took him into his mouth, sucking on the damp head.
Sirius half laughed, half moaned, brows drawn together a little as Remus took him down further. He was fattening up to full now, slick and heavy in Remus’ mouth.
“Ah—” Remus looked up to see Sirius’ head fall back. The tension fell out of his shoulders. His back arched a little, defined abs flexing through the thin material of his black undershirt. “Yeah—”
Remus sucked harder, keeping a hand wrapped around the base of his cock, stroking softly in the way he knew Sirius liked. Sirius was already spilling thinly over his tongue, bitter and warm. Remus pulled off to the head again, pressing his tongue to the slit hard and making Sirius jolt.
“God, Remus—” Sirius choked the words out, cock slicking itself more as Remus reached down to cup his balls and stroke behind them. Sirius widened his stance, welcoming the touch. “Ouais—yes.”
Remus stilled and pressed his hands behind Sirius’ hips, coaxing them forward gently. Sirius blinked down at him blearily. “You—you want me…”
Remus pushed Sirius’ hips forward more insistently and looked up. Sirius’ fingers tightened in Remus’ hair.
“Merde,” his hips fucked forward, almost on their own. “Re.”
And Sirius complied, fucking himself into Remus’ hot mouth in slow strokes. Remus was hot and aching in his own pants, and he reached down to push them under his balls. He moaned at the first touch, and Sirius picked up his pace. Remus’ breathed in through his nose, smelling Sirius’ slight sweat, and fucked his fist in time to Sirius’ hips. He was heavy on his tongue. Sirius’ breathing was heavy, eyes dark and hair curling out form under his hat. He was gorgeous, and strong, and Remus didn’t care if they won a silver cup when he had those silver eyes.
Sirius’ mouth was open, eyes tight with pleasure as he watched his cock sink in and out of Remus’ mouth, watched Remus’ hips move at the same time. Remus moaned as he pressed his palm against his own head, fingers tight around his shaft.
“Mon—I’m gonna—”
Remus felt flushed and turned on by Sirius standing there, half dressed before a game with his swollen cock looking like that. It was only a few more strokes before Remus felt Sirius begin to come in his mouth. Sirius’ hips stilled, abs flexing in, and Remus bobbed his head, sucking him through it.
“Yes, yes,” Sirius whispered, head dropped back again. He stopped breathing and grit his teeth. He pushed his cock into Remus’ mouth once, twice. “Ah.”
Remus pulled off when Sirius made a soft, sensitive sound. Sirius took one look at him, chest heaving, and dropped to his knees, too.
“Baby,” Remus’ voice shook, fist quick on his own cock. He needed to come so bad.
Sirius just pushed at his shoulders, laying him back until he was against the carpet and Sirius had him fully in his mouth. He worked Remus with his mouth quickly, groaning around him, and Remus’ hips arched off the ground towards the heat. He came hard, forcing his eyes to stay open so he could watch Sirius.
They lay there for a moment, Sirius panting with his cheek against Remus’ hip, before he pushed himself up and positively beamed at Remus.
“Nice and clean,” he said, and surged up and kissed Remus. “I fucking love you.”
Remus wrapped his arms around Sirius’ neck and licked into his mouth. “I love you, I love you. You’re going to play so well.”
Sirius smiled into their next kiss, biting at Remus’ lower lip. “I am now.”
Sirius pulled back with a questioning noise when Remus started laughing into their next kiss.
“I’m sorry,” Remus laughed through the words, stroking his hands over Sirius’ cheeks. “It’s like an entire new experience kissing you with this thing.”
Sirius grinned and rubbed their cheeks together. “You like it a little bit, I know you do.”
Remus smiled into the kiss, but didn’t answer, instead carefully tucking Sirius back into his spandex and patting his butt. “See you out there, Captain.”
It was Sirius’ first home game back and playing. Instead of the normal pump up songs, the Lions’ had a special pre-game video on the jumbotron. When the lights went down, it played the first notes of Back in Black. At first the song’s notes were spaced out, remixed. It was hard to tell what the song was, echoing through the stadium. As soon as the crowd figured it out though, they went wild, and then an image of the back of Sirius’ jersey, slow-motioned, played of him walking down the darkened tunnel to the ice, his last name shining in glossy letters.
Dum.
Fast clips of Sirius’ tricky, skating feet.
Dum-da-dum.
A goal from the season, beautiful and impossible—until Sirius did it. Remus’ heart pounded.
Dum-a-dum.
The crowd recognized the song. Hogwarts roared.
Dum-a-dum-dum.
Remus laughed on the bench, popping a piece of gum in his mouth.
“Marlene’s a genius,” he shouted over the noise to Moody.
“She is,” he laughed gruffly.
The video continued with the rest of the team, highlights from the season and snippets of interviews. Finn and Logan crashing together after a goal. Leo’s bright blue eyes, focused from behind his mask. We’re ready, his accented voice said. We feel ready. James and Sirius’ famous one-two plays. Evgeni, mountainous and bear-like. Pascal and Logan. The French Canadian father and son, came Frank’s voice, and then the clip cut, bleeding together into a whole. Pascal and Sergei, helmets pressed together. Thomas, proud and tall, flipping a puck right between a goalies legs. Walkie-Talkie, walking the walk!
A waving rainbow flag being waved by numerous fans.
Remus felt tears building in the back of his throat. He wished he could see Sirius right then.
Frank’s voice over the speakers. Lions fans. Welcome to the Stanley Cup Finals.
He drew out the next words in the way he always did. Your Gryffin-dor Li-ons!
The Snakes skated out for warm-ups when the Lions did, insignificant and dark in their black away uniforms. When the lights came up, the Lions were out, Kasey raking up his crease and the others doing a lap on their side of the rink. Remus saw Snape’s eyes flick over from behind his visor, but that was all.
Arthur was bent over his calling card with some of the assistant coaches, motioning to various players.
“How does it feel?” Remus asked Kasey when he skated over to the bench for some water while Leo warmed up in goal, too.
“It feels good,” Kasey said. “It—”
James skated up fast and stopped hard. “Blue.”
Remus raised an eyebrow at him. “James, you ask me this ever game, I really don’t know how…” Remus trailed off and crossed his arms. “This is a superstitious thing. Isn’t it.”
James, looking only a little guilty, smiled. “Blue?”
Remus handed it to him. “You are all insane.”
“Bliz,” Leo said, opening the bench door. “You’re back in.”
Kasey tapped his butt with his blocker and skated back out.
“Is he okay?”
Remus looked back at James. He had his contacts in, adjusting one with a knuckle. “What?” Remus asked. “Who?”
James looked over to center ice where Sirius was tracing the Lions’ logo with a puck. Remus could see fans filming him—or maybe it was Kuny, down on the ice with his legs in the air, stretching.
“You know how Cap gets,” James said. “How much did he beat himself up over the last few nights?”
Remus sighed. “Oh, he tried to watch tape.”
James snorted. “Of course.”
“Didn’t let him, though. I all but wrestled him into bed—no.”
James’ face was already lit up.
“Not like that, Pots.”
James laughed loudly, reaching with his stick for a puck to take back out with him. “Sure, Loops, sure.”
Logan and Finn were standing near middle ice together, waiting for the wrap-around shoot. Logan was laughing at something Finn was saying. He took his helmet off and put it back on again, like he did with his hat.
“Cute, huh?” Leo said, and when Remus looked over at him, he grinned.
Remus laughed. “Proud of yourself?”
“Very.”
Remus found Sirius again. He was at the far side of the rink, pushing a stick over the glass for a little kid.
“Yeah. Yeah, me too.”
The horn went to signal the end of warm ups, and the team skated back towards the bench so that the ice crew could get rid of the shaved up ice.
Sirius jumped the boards in front of Remus, and Remus could already see the game taking over his expression. He was chewing the inside of his cheek, tapping various teammates and talking fast directions to them. Go hard here, ease off this, cover Malfoy on the power play…
When the lights went down for the national anthem, it felt sudden. Remus’ heart jumped in his chest. Sirius glanced at Remus as he pulled his twelve necklace out from within his jersey, smiling before bowing his head and holding the pendant to his lips. Finn had his hand on Logan’s shoulder, Logan was holding his necklace, Leo was behind both of them, close and shuffling from skate to skate.
Remus looked over to the Snake’s bench. They were still. Their eyes were ahead. He thought about Regulus, up in the Lions box with the other families, looking down at the red and green. He wondered, not for this first time, if Sirius’ parents were here. He hadn’t asked. He didn’t want Sirius looking for them, even subconsciously.
Things didn’t get interesting until halfway through the second period. The Snakes were mirroring Sirius’ line, calling Snape’s out whenever Sirius jumped the boards. Malfoy was on him like a magnet, hammering him into the boards and getting penalties called on himself for slashing.
“What kind of fucking strategy is this?” Finn said before climbing back out onto the ice for their fourth power play of the period. Sirius was circling with one of the refs, talking with his hands, his mouthguard in one of his palms.
“Alright, boys!” James yelled. “Alright, alright, here we go!”
Not single goal had yet to be scored and the crowd was anxious for one, shouting at every moment a Lion was close to Riddle’s net.
Sirius, seemingly giving up on the referee, set up across center ice from Snape. He spat something that made Severus sneer and Remus—Remus couldn’t deny that it sent a new wave of heat through him. Sirius was all hockey now, and his eyes were on the Cup. The Stanley Cup wasn’t in the building yet, it was too soon, but it would be. Remus’ throat got tight when he thought about it. He’d never been this close. He never thought he’d ever be this close.
The puck dropped. Sirius scooped it back to Finn and darted into the Snakes’ zone, wrestling against Malfoy still. He shouted for James but Snape intercepted the pass, sudden and sloppy in his strokes, and carried it back to the center zone. Malfoy, though, was too busy with Sirius. The puck went careening towards the boards, momentarily alone, before Finn was there, catching it and carrying it towards Riddle. He faked once, weight on his toes, twice, and then shot it above Riddle’s left shoulder. The goal horn blared in red lights. His hands went up and so did Sirius’. Logan shouted from beside Remus on the bench.
“Fuck, Harzy,” he said, and Leo and him shared a smile.
Remus clapped with Hogwarts, glancing up at the jumbotron to see the score change from 0-0 to 1-0. Finn jumped the boards and Logan pressed their helmets together in the split moment that they met while leaving and getting onto the ice. Finn was sweaty and grinning.
“That’s what we’re doing,” Thomas shouted. “That’s what we’re doing.”
Sirius stayed out and Remus smiled. He wanted a goal, Remus could tell. He and James circled each other as they talked, heads close together so the others couldn’t hear or read their lips.
Remus patted Finn’s shoulder. “Good getting us going, Harz.”
“I’m good at getting boys going, Loops.”
Remus snorted and Leo shoved him.
Riddle was making a slow lap around the crease, eyes on Finn on their bench, then moving over, all the way across the ice, to Kasey, re-setting, too.
Remus looked between them, and when he returned to Riddle, he saw that he was spitting words at Snape and pointing to Kasey.
The lights changed, calling a TV break.
“Mon loup, c’est bon?” Sirius said. He put a foot up on the boards, stretching.
Remus hesitated, then nodded. “I—yeah. Your ankle? Is it stiff?”
“Non, just stretching,” Sirius smiled. “Worrier.”
“Hey,” Remus tried to smile back, but he was watching Kasey approach the bench. “Hey, Kase—”
“I saw it, too, Loops,” Kasey said, squirting some water into his mouth and glancing over at Riddle. “Believe me. That guy’s eyes practically glow like the ones on his mask.”
“Just watch out for any bad plays,” Coach said. “That goes for everyone.”
“I mean,” Kasey shrugged. “If he tries to get a goal by ramming into me, it’ll be no goal.”
“I’m not worried about the goal, Bliz,” Coach said. “I’m worried about you.”
One corner of Kasey’s mouth lifted in a smile. “Well, shucks, Coach.”
“Alright,” Coach nodded. “Let’s be careful and play hard.”
There was a chorus of yes, coach, and Pascal’s line went out for the face-off.
“What exactly did you see Snape and Riddle do?” Sirius asked, back in the locker room. He was smiling and wearing the Lions hat token that Logan had given to him after Sirius scored two goals in the third. They had won game two 4-2. The series was tied for now.
“Nothing really,” Remus was bent beside him by James, taping up a sore calf. “It was a look but…”
“But that’s all it really takes with Riddle,” James said. “Thanks Loops, that feels better.”
“Go easy on it, no running on the plane.”
“I don’t do that!”
“Yes, you really do.”
“Well, I am a responsible father now.”
“I didn’t see them try anything,” Sirius said, glancing over at Kasey. “But I’m not sure that makes me feel better.”
Remus sighed, running a hand over Sirius’ knee and using it to push himself up. “Me neither. But, hey.”
Sirius looked up at him, and Remus tilted the brim of the hat back so he could lean down for a quick kiss. “We won.”
“Lupin love,” Thomas shouted.
Remus laughed. “Do you need something, Walker?”
“Sirius!”
Remus didn’t have time to look behind him before Julian was barreling into his back, arms around his waist and gazing at Sirius.
“Those goals were so good.”
Sirius smiled. “Thanks, Jules. Wanna wear the hat?”
“Really?”
James leaned in. “Be warned of the countless sweaty heads that has adorned. We can’t wash it.”
“I wanna wear it!”
Sirius placed the hat on Julian’s head while the other families filed in. Remus saw Alex give his brother a tight hug, Leo’s dad going up to clap Logan on the back. Kris’ daughter went running to him, and he scooped her up with kisses. Julian had become fast friends with Regulus and was running to show him his hat where he was standing with Leo.
Sirius rose, locking his hands around Remus’ lower back. “Want to come cool down with me?”
Remus smiled, palms on his chest. “Oh, we’ll cool down, will we?”
“Yeah,” Sirius pressed a kiss to Remus’ cheek, beard dragging against his skin. “You know. Relax all of our tense muscles.”
Remus wound his fingers in Sirius’ sweaty hair. “I love you. Go shower.”
Sirius pressed a last, soft kiss to Remus’ mouth. “Don’t leave without me.”
“Never.”
Sirius’ house was warm and quiet when Hope unlocked the door.
Hope turned to Sirius once they were inside. “I made some spaghetti for you, Sirius, I thought you might be hungry.”
Sirius laughed. “Hope, tu es un ange.”
“He said you’re an angel,” Remus smiled. “And he’s right.”
“Remus makes the best post-game sandwiches,” Sirius pulled him close. “I guess I have you to thank for that.”
“Oh, no, that’d be Lyall,” Hope smiled, pulling a covered dish out of the refrigerator and turning to the microwave. “Lyall and Remus always made sandwiches together after his games.”
“And me,” Julian said, sliding into a chair at the kitchen table. “Right dad?”
“Every game,” Lyall smiled. “Best part of my day, bud.”
“Can I go skate, mom?”
“Julian Lupin, you are going right to bed. Do you know what time it is? I’ll let you miss school for this, and your bedtime, but there is a line, darling.”
“But we’re having spaghetti.”
Hope raised an eyebrow. “Did you just play a full game of hockey?”
Julian sighed. “No.”
“Okay then,” Hope stroked Julian’s hair. “Go get ready for bed, okay? Take dad with you.”
“C’mon, J, we’ll watch some of the post-game.”
Remus watched Julian and his dad trudge upstairs then turned to Hope. “Mom, let me do that. We have a long flight tomorrow again. Why don’t you go rest up, too?”
Hope looked between them and laughed, understanding. “Well, if you insist. I’ll just leave you two alone then. My son the chef, that’s new!”
Remus snorted. “It was new, like, four years ago!”
Hope smiled and kissed Remus on the cheek, then Sirius. “See you two tomorrow.”
When the microwave beeped, they shared the bowl with two forks, ankles tangled below the table.
“Are you really worried?” Sirius said after a few beats of silence. He twirled his fork in the noodles and held it out to Remus. “About Kasey. About Snape.”
Remus took Sirius’ fork gently into his mouth. “I don’t know. I know he’s worried. He’s nervous about his thigh. I can tell. It’s like you, early on with your ankle. Timid.”
Sirius nodded slowly. “Do you think I should talk to him?”
Remus shrugged. “It couldn’t hurt. Kasey’s strong, but it’s always good to hear you’re good.”
Sirius’ smile was sly, if not a little sleepy. “So I learned today.”
Remus smiled. “Eat so we can sleep. You frickin sweetheart.”
Sirius laughed and pulled the bowl towards him to scrape the last of the noodles towards him and into his mouth. After putting it in the sink, he bent over the back of Remus’ chair, arms across Remus’ chest.
“Bed?”
Remus tilted his head back for a kiss. “Bed.”
~
Slytherin was cold and the Snakes were vicious. Remus looked up at the second period clock running down as he prodded at Sirius’ left shoulder. Sirius was breathing heavily, Moody holding cotton to his bleeding nose.
Malfoy was in a similar state, being led to the the penalty box.
“Finally got tired of him being all over you, eh?” Remus said, then, more firmly, and loudly to be heard over the Slytherin crowd, “Do you have to go back to the locker room with me?”
“Non,” Sirius yelled, batting Moody’s hand away and swiping his own across his nose. The bleeding had stopped. “I’m good, allez.”
Remus nodded, replacing Sirius’ shoulder pad and pulling his jersey back down over his shoulder and arm. “All right, go.”
“Love you,” Sirius breathed, and then hopped the boards to go to the penalty box. Remus couldn’t help but smile a little as he watched him and Malfoy spit words at each other through the glass.
Coach leaned in. “He okay?”
Remus nodded. “He’s fine.” He looked back over at the penalty box, at Malfoy inside. “Blondie’s really not gonna leave him alone this whole series, huh?”
“That’s their way,” Coach grumbled. “Stick on you like leeches. Sirius knows how to handle it.”
Evgeni and Jackson made their way back onto the bench.
“Just take your time, the word will come to you,” Jackson was saying. “Kuns, you can’t get frustrated like that.”
Evgeni grumbled something in Russian and Jackson just nodded along.
“Nado, score goal,” he ended with.
“I’m trying.”
They were down three nothing, and Remus looked back at Kasey. He was tense, in his own head. Remus would give anything to be able to talk to him.
The puck dropped, Logan on the face-off. They were four-on-four, Sirius leaning forward in the box, probably hoping for a jack-in-the-box goal. Snape carried the puck in easily, past Olli, deking around Pascal only to be crushed to the boards by Timmy. He lost it for a second, but Logan flubbed a pass and then it was on Carrow’s stick.
“Shit,” Remus swore under his breath.
Carrow was a ruthless, fast skater. He pushed towards Kasey, closer and closer.
Despite everything, Remus wasn’t expecting him to ram into Kasey, disregarding the puck entirely, and knocking them both into the net.
The goal horn blared and Carrow didn’t even look up as he skated off the ice and down the tunnel. He knew he was too dirty to be allowed back in the game. Some of his team members patted him on the back. Remus felt sick.
Remus leaped up—and Kasey stayed down. The ref was blowing the whistle hard.
“Fucking interference!” James shouted, voice breaking with how much he had been at it. “Fuck!”
Kasey hit the ice with his stick as he rose, slowly. So slowly.
Sure enough, the referee skated out, hands in a cross, signaling that there was no goal.
Just as suddenly, the crowd started to sing. At least, at first Remus thought it was singing. Then, he recognized the sound.
“Winter,” the crowd was saying in a long, drawn out drone. It was haunting. It was over and over again.
Winter, Winter.
They were taunting him. Kasey was lapping his goal. He was favoring one leg. He was keeping his head down.
“Coach,” Remus said quietly. “Coach, he’s hurt.”
“Let’s see what he does,” Coach said. “Let’s see, Kasey’s not reckless.”
“He might be if the entire crowd is taunting him into it.”
“We have ten seconds left. He can last ten seconds.”
“We’ll keep it away from him,” Thomas said. His eyes were dark. “Jesus, Kase.”
The ten seconds went, and the end of the second period rang out.
Kasey was down on one knee in his crease, head bowed. Then, he lifted his gaze and looked right at Remus. Remus could only just make out his brown eyes through his mask. Kasey gave a slight shake of his head.
Walking back down the tunnel was a blur. Sirius was holding his hand until they had to part ways. Remus looked up at a TV as he passed and stopped when he saw himself. It was the moment from earlier. He had his hands up Sirius’ jersey, checking his shoulder, while Sirius had his head turned close to him, mid-sentence, blood dripping down his face.
“Black and Lupin, close on the bench this game,” the show host was saying and Remus scoffed. “And what looked like a bad hit on Lions starting goalie, Kasey Winter, by the Snakes tonight. Lucky for the Lions, they don’t have too bad a rookie. Nineteen year old Leo Knut, Louisiana born…”
Remus kept walking, pushing open the door to the quiet room where Kasey was waiting for him on his back on the exam table. He had his bad leg stretched out.
“Hi Kase,” Remus said softly.
Kasey had an arm over his eyes, and he pulled it away slowly. “Hi, Loops.”
“You okay? Can I get you some water or a bar or something?”
Kasey shook his head. “No. Let’s just—let’s get this over with. Just tell me.”
Remus bit his lip, but nodded. “Okay. I’m gonna take your shorts off, alright?”
Kasey nodded, and Remus worked quietly until he was stripped to his underarmour and Remus could feel his strong muscles and tendons. Remus was gentle and quick. Kasey wasn’t a player who liked things sugar coated.
“Well?” Kasey asked in a rough voice.
“It—it has a light tear, I think,” Remus said softly, and Kasey closed his eyes. “I need you to rest Kase. Don’t think I haven’t seen you pushing yourself. I know it’s frustrating.”
“Barely,” Kasey grit out. “I’ve been barely pushing myself. It’s—it’s just not—”
There was a knock at the door, making them both look up.
Natalie poked her head in, and the moment Kasey saw her he pressed a palm over his eyes and sucked in a sharp breath of tears.
“Kase,” Natalie was rushing forward, the door falling shut behind her. She rubbed a palm over his chest, the other in his hair. “Hey, baby, you’re all right.” She kissed his forehead. “You’re all right.”
“I’ll give you two a second,” Remus said quietly, and she nodded.
“Thanks, Re.”
Remus felt overly hot and heavy when the door closed behind him. The hallway looked busy and loud with staff members.
“Remus.”
Remus turned at Arthur’s voice, meeting worried, stern eyes.
“Tell me,” Arthur said.
“These injuries are tricky,” Remus managed. “They’re easily aggravated and…”
“And I should get Knut warmed up?”
“Yes,” Remus said, even though it hurt. “Yes.”
Arthur pressed his lips together and they stood there for a moment, the chaos around them.
“I’m going to go see Bliz,” Arthur said. “Tell him he’s good.”
“Natalie’s in there. I think you should give him a minute.”
Arthur nodded. “Okay. Go see the boys. I’m coming back in five to go over strategy.”
“Okay,” Remus managed a tight smile, and headed for the locker room.
Sirius was on him in a moment, sweaty and stripped down to his pads and socks.
“No, it isn’t good,” Remus said before he could ask. “Where is Leo?”
“Warming up,” Sirius said. “Fuck. Re—”
“Loops?”
It was Evgeni.
“Blizzard is okay?” he asked. The rest of the locker room quieted to listen.
Remus shook his head. “He’s okay but he’s done for the season.”
Remus turned to Sirius and took his hand. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” Sirius said. “Are you?”
“I feel horrible,” Remus said. “I should have watched him closer, I should have—I knew how hard he was being on himself, I’ve been there.”
“Re, this isn’t your fault. Did you see that hit? Carrow’s out of the game and he’s gonna get a suspension for that. It was completely insane.”
“They’ll just replace him with Bones. You know they will, that’s their whole strategy. They don’t care how hard the hit is—”
“They don’t care about their players,” Regulus cut in. He was standing with Pascal and offered a humorless smile. “Whatever makes the game easier.”
“And yet their motto is always pure hockey,” Pascal shook his head.
“I need to find Leo.”
“He’s with Finn and Logan by the bikes,” Regulus said.
Remus nodded, pressed a palm to Sirius’ cheek, and then turned away.
Leo was stretched out on the floor in his spandex, Logan and Finn talking with him as they kept their muscles warm on the bikes. They looked up when Remus entered.
“Is Nut in?” Finn asked.
“Yes.”
Leo sat up. “Is Kasey…” but he trailed off at Remus’ expression. “Fuck.”
“Bliz,” Logan sighed, raking his fingers through his sweaty hair before hanging his head, elbows on the bike handlebars and feet slow. It had been Logan’s missed pass.
“It isn’t your fault, Tremz. We just have to hope for the best. But get warm, Leo, okay? You can see him after.”
Leo nodded. “Okay. Not my first play off game or anything. No pressure. At least my family is here.” Leo let out a long breath and touched his forehead to his knees. “My mama would cry if she missed this.”
Remus looked to Finn and Logan. “You guys good?”
Finn nodded. “Yeah, Loops, we’re good.”
Remus pushed back into the hallway, hoping to go back to Kasey, only to be met by Alice. He tried to duck out, but she walked with him.
“Coach says he’s in,” she said, gesturing to the door closing on the cubs. “He told me to come to you for news on Kasey.”
“Slight tear in the adductor longus,” Remus said as they walked down the hall. When Alice just gave him a look, Remus sighed. “Inner thigh.”
“So, his repeating injury.”
“Yes, but,” Remus stopped, hand on her shoulder. They were at the locker room. “Do me a favor, and don’t put that in the press statement. I don’t want him hearing that right now.”
Alice’s expression softened. “You’re good to them, Lupin.”
Remus was already pushing open the door. “They’re good to me.”
Out on the ice, Leo was met by hisses and jeering. Finn and Logan kept close to his side while he marked him his crease, circling and tapping his posts.
Moody chuckled from beside Remus. “Not superstitious, eh?”
Remus patted Sirius’ shoulder. “That can only last so long when you’re around this one twenty-four seven.”
Sirius turned. “Quoi?”
“Nothing,” Remus said, and shared a knowing look with Moody.
“Where’s Bliz?” James asked.
“Watching with Natalie and his family in the recovery room,” Remus said. “He’ll be okay, you guys focus. Win this game for him.”
Remus looked out at Leo, at Pascal on the face-off.
The referee dropped the puck, and the third period of game three began.
hi! i saw that your requests were open soooo maybe you could write some about leo!! maybe the team realizing how much of a BAMF he is for being so young? or maybe him totally acting like a kid while everyone is just loving it!!
Okay, I wasn’t really sure where to go with this because erm...Leo is always a BAMF, and I think the team knows it. Anyway, I kind of went rogue I think, but I love the idea of the team protecting their cub. I hope you enjoy it too! Sorry if it’s not what you were after.
CW: There's a couple of food mentions.
Let me know if you think I missed anything.
Rating: G
Credit for the characters and the sweater weather universe goes to @lumosinlove
5 times the Lions protected their cub
1.
Leo leaned against the bar, head cocked slightly as he listened to the woman; Bree, gush about her upcoming art show. She swept her fringe back and toyed with the cherry perched on top of her drink.
"You know, I can tie this stem with my tongue," she giggled. "Wanna see?"
Thankfully, before Leo had to decide how to reply, the bartender made their way back over and set three glasses onto the bar. "Sorry about that," they said. "Two beers and a cosmo, right?"
Relieved for the escape, Leo nodded. Still, Bree had been nice enough to chat to until his drink arrived. He'd always found something mesmerising about the way bartenders worked - gracefully but with such speed - and he didn't hear Thomas approach. But there he was, putting himself between Leo and Bree.
"Are you a reporter?” Thomas demanded.
“Er...” Bree hesitated.
“You’re a rookie too, I see," Thomas huffed a laugh. He glared as he hooked an arm around Leo's shoulder. “Come on knutty. You’ve gotta be more careful.”
2.
Leo was crashing into his net, the wind knocked out of his lungs, before he had even registered the opponent hitting him.
Under the weight of his uniform, he struggled to get upright. He blinked up at the bright white arena lights and thumped a gloved fist against the ice. Seconds later, James and Olli offered him a hand each, and he managed to pull himself up. The rest of the team were stood shoulder to shoulder forming a line in front of him.
Did Cap just growl?
“Alright, alright," one of the orange clad opponents laughed. "You're going to have to let the cub loose at sometime though."
3.
“Can we go to Disney whilst we’re in Florida?” Leo asked. He’d mostly meant it as a joke, but the team leapt on it.
“Can we Coach? We could swing another couple of days down there, right?” Finn said, already pulling up the ticket page.
“Are you going to deny this little face,” Thomas squeezed Leo’s cheeks.
“He’s never been Coach, it’s just sad!” Logan insisted.
Finally, Coach Weasley relented, telling them they needed to fund the extra nights themselves. It was at that point Leo felt it necessary to point out he was terrified of roller coasters.
“It’s okay, we’ll hold your hand,” James patted him on the back with a laugh.
4. The airport was busy. It was the third or fourth time Leo had done this now, but between the flashes of paparazzi cameras and the loud chants from the fans, he wasn’t sure he was ever going to get used.
“Hey, are you okay?” Dumo asked quietly, pulling Leo’s hoodie over his head. “Keep your eyes down if you don’t want them to take photos.”
Leo smiled at Dumo, still half asleep from the short nap he’d finally managed to catch on the plane. “Yeah, I’m good. Just forgot how crazy this is.”
The crowd of hockey players stopped. Everybody else seemed to know what was going on, but Leo was confused.
“If anybody needs to use the restroom go now. We will not be stopping the coach. Finn, I’m talking to you,” Coach Weasley spoke to group. A few members of their security team ushered those that need the bathroom away.
“Sure you don’t need the toilet?” Dumo questioned softly.
“Yeah, I’m good. Thanks Dad,” Leo laughed.
“You are 4 years older than Adele! Still a child,” Dumo ruffled Leo’s hair through his hoodie.
5. Leo woke up to seven new text messages. One was from his mother, but the rest were from members of his team.
Tremz: Hey Leo, me and Finn are going to Sid’s later. Feel free to join.
Talker: Heard you were a bit of food fiend. I make a mean curry. Would love your opinion if you want to come around?
Kase: Do you like basketball? Me and Nat were going to have a game. Would be cool to have you along. Just us goalies.
Loops: Leo, I know it can be a bit daunting around here to begin with. I’m sure you already have plans, but I’d love to go to that new Medieval lit exhibit that just opened at the museum if you’re around?
Nado: Kuny’s forcing me to watch Star Wars for the 1100th time. Come and save me?
Cap: Hi, Leo. How are you settling in. Give me a call if you need any hints or tips. I’m sure Finn’s got you covered, but he’s still pretty new himself.
Leo’s frown got deeper with each message. He was grateful for the offers, but it sure did seem strange. He hauled himself out of bed, and followed the sound of the coffee machine to find Finn in the kitchen, eating a bowl of dry cereal.
“Can you help me?” Leo asked.
Finn perked up at the question, smiling at Leo, “Sure! What’s up.”
“Everybody is being weird.”
“How so?” Finn chuckled.
Leo showed Finn the messages he’d received, his housemate’s laughter growing with each one. “I think they are trying to keep you occupied,” Finn explained.
“...why?”
“The first couple of weeks suck,” Finn shrugged. “It’s easy to get homesick. They’re just looking out for you.”
Leo felt oddly emotional about it all, and considered that maybe the team had a point after all. “Okay then, how do I pick then?”
Finn looked at him, bringing another piece of cinnamon crunch to his mouth and chewing slowly. “Leave it to me,” he eventually gave an answer, tapping his fingers over his phone with purpose. A few moments later, Leo’s phone flashed up with a message from The Lions group chat.
Harzy: Back off. Leo’s mine for today.
Leo laughed as a barrage of replies that came back complaining about the lack of fairness. He added his own message telling them it was all going to be okay, there was plenty of him to share and he’d hang out with them all eventually. He hadn’t even known he’d needed the offers, but he realised now that he truly had picked the best team.
