Top 12 Heated Rivalry fics I’ve read (Feb 2026)
Carter Vaughn Does the Math by fringe_problems [G]
“Hey man, did the LASIK already fade? Thought it was supposed to last longer—my sister was thinking about it, and I told her how well it went for you and Jonesy.” Hunter looks up from the table, confused, “Huh? No, my eyes are great. Still recommend it.” “Oh, I saw the contact lens solution, and I thought…” Carter trails off. He suddenly realizes he’s prying, something he hates doing in general but learned long ago not to do with Hunter specifically. Hunter opens his mouth and then shuts it. His whole face looks like a rabbit caught in crosshairs. “I, that was,” he stammers, pauses for a beat. “My cousin visited. Thanksgiving. She forgot hers, and I bought some for her.” --- Carter Vaughn does not want to pry. But he does want to know what's going on.
From the Moment We Met by sarantae [M]
He could make them both hot apple cider and they could go for a drive. And then Troy could stop at a particularly pretty house, and then turn to Harris and ask him to be his husband. It would be personal and private, and just how Harris would want it. And it would be so special, and just for the two of them. It was a perfect plan.
Hall of Mirrors: Seeing and Being Seen on 14th Street by agatestones [G]
Another positive of the whole cup ceremony/coming out thing: never thought I'd see hockey coverage in my favorite magazine! Thought of you. -- Dad
i showed you the way, even though i'd never been by floodlights [T]
You didn’t have to be a genius. Or gay. It helped, probably, that Scott was, but they were just so fucking obvious about it.
In Excelsis by woodenducks [E]
Kip visits the church on the corner of East 69th Street and Second Avenue because he’s sad, and because it’s beautiful.
it started with a whisper by gurlsrool [T]
Scott: I’ve been getting asked if it’s me. I considered denying but if we all deny and one person doesn’t, that sort of gives their identity away and I’m not sure they want that. Ilya: Everyone thinks is me. My agent asked if I want to comment too Scott: Wait, it's not you? Ilya: Maybe 🤔 Or maybe not 🤪 Eric: What? Or: When Adrian Dela Cruz reveals he dated an NHL player, chaos and damage control ensue. A story told through texts, tweets, and one pretentious Variety article.
like a song with no end (get right back to it) by fringe_problems [E]
Kip is hit with a wave of relief when he sees Scott at the front of the crowd, sweat-dried hair a mess from everyone rubbing his head. He’s out of his pads and jersey, in a black Under Armor shirt, Kip has only ever seen in the laundry. He is used to seeing Scott post-shower and change, back at home. The charge of seeing Scott like this, sizzling with energy and salty with sweat, surrounds Kip like a net and pulls him under. He is not used to this feeling, the thrill that courses through him that this Scott—team captain, public figure—can be claimed as his. He wants to do so, but has no idea how to negotiate this new world and new arrangement. Scott scans the room and sees him, eyes bright. --- Scott and Kip have only been back together, properly, for three months when Scott comes out. Now it's the summer after.
Measured in Heartbeats by Temple [T]
“Am I too heavy?” Harris asked nervously, Troy felt him lift his hips slowly as he spoke. Troy furrowed his brow, confused and opened his eyes to look at his boyfriend. His usually loud and confident boyfriend, who looked unsure and anxious about Troy’s reply. “What?” “Am I too heavy, do you want me to move?” Harris asked, forcing a laugh.
scott hunter's worst nightmare by goldengalaxies
"Anyway, I wanted to congratulate you." "…thank you." Scott said cautiously. "You are probably oldest to ever win Cup, so that is very impressive. They should give you special geriatric award." There it was. "Jesus fucking Christ, kid." Scott huffed a laugh. "You're a piece of work, you know that?" "Ah, but I am funny." Rozanov shrugged, sipping his vodka. "And hot." He winked at Kip. Kip's jaw flew open and Scott immediately pulled his boyfriend closer to him. So what if Ilya Rozanov was 100% straight and definitely trying to fuck with him? Scott still wasn't going to just stand there while fucking Rozanov flirted with his boyfriend. (kip meets ilya at the mvp award night. they become friends <3)
Seneca Lake by woodenducks [E]
The Finger Lakes are about as temperamentally far from New York City as he could get. In less than an hour he can be in Rochester, if he wanted to. If there were anything still there of his old life—the life he’d had as a boy, before his parents died, before boarding school, before the NHL consumed him and spat him out. Ten years after letting Kip walk out of his apartment, Scott is retired and living in obscurity, running a bed and breakfast in upstate New York. It’s quiet there. It’s lonely. It’s exactly how he likes it. Until serendipity brings Kip to his doorstep.
Skating Home by sanctuary_for_all [T]
It was more than he'd dared hope for. (Spoilers for the ending of 1x05.)
Time Difference by DeliberateMisspelling [G]
There are three years between the 2014 Olympics and the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Or Scott isn’t stalking Kip. He absolutely is not. It’s been nearly two years, he’s not that pathetic. It’s just that sometimes, when he’s too far inside his own head to know where the sky is, he’ll loiter outside the Kingfisher, sipping a coffee and scrolling his phone and trying to be inconspicuous, for like, an hour or two.
