Discover Top Posts Tagged with #tiger stripes

Hudson talking about his tiger stripes made me want to post a scene from an outside pov fic for Ilya's time in Ottawa that I'm working on. Spoilers for The Long Game.

Tiger Stripes (pov Evan Dykstra)

“You feeling okay?” Dykstra asks Haas.

They’re in the locker room after hitting the showers, most of the guys still in towels or half-undressed.

The new rookie looks at Dystrak, confusion obvious. “Yes, why?”

Dykstra gestures at Haas’s side, at what look like fairly fresh stretch marks judging by the light purple coloring. They’re not in a typical placement from bulking up, so growth spurt is Dykstra’s best guess.

“Growth spurts can be a bitch,” Dykstra says, who is six feet three, and knows. He had days during puberty when he woke up, and half his wardrobe didn’t fit anymore, when the growing pains settled deep into his bones, and when, worst of all, he stumbled uncoordinated over his newly grown feet. The only place his body had always behaved was on the ice. Which was a good thing, because Dykstra was still growing after he got drafted. And with the growing came the pains. Haas is only twenty; he might just have hit his last one.

“Ah, yeah.” Haas shifts a little uncomfortably. “I think I grew another two centimeters since I came here. I thought I was done, but…”

Dykstra claps his shoulder. “Sometimes you get a late one. You can ask for more massages, get some of the aches out.”

Haas gives him a grateful smile. “Thanks, but I don’t know—”

“Why does Haas need more physio?” Roz asks from across the room.

Dykstra has no idea how he heard them, but their captain just notices things.

He comes over now, obviously concerned for a player’s health. Like a good captain.

Two years ago, Dykstra was worried about Rozanov joining the team, knowing his reputation and having gotten more than his fair share of chirps playing him, but Roz turned out to be a good guy. Well, still an asshole, but also a good captain and a good teammate. Dykstra could do with less chirping for his music choices—which are absolutely amazing, the team doesn’t know what they’re talking about—and Roz disappears a little too often and doesn’t spend a lot of time with the team, but he’s a good captain when he’s there. Like right now, looking after their new rookie’s health.

Luca is blushing now, clearly still in the throes of hero worship for Roz. “Just some growing pains,” Luca says.

“Growing pains,” Roz repeats, tilting his head.

“From a growth spurt,” Dykstra says and gestures at Haas’ new stretch marks. Most tall guys, or guys who bulk up in a short amount of time, have them someplace or other on their body. He doesn’t know if Roz has them; it’s not something Dykstra usually checks. Haas was just right next to him, and the light hit his side right.

Roz looks at Haas’ side in question. “Ah, yes. Massage will help a little with pain.”

Haas nods. “Yeah. Thanks.” He very quickly pulls his shirt over his head.

Chouinard comes over and claps Haas on his other shoulder. “No need to feel weird. Tiger stripes, yeah?”

“Tiger stripes?” Roz repeats.

Chouinard nods. “Yeah, learned that from my wife after her first pregnancy. You know, because they show she survived the battle of being pregnant and all that.”

“I’m not pregnant,” Haas mutters, horrified.

“Well, no,” Chouinard says, looking a little flummoxed.

There’s a moment of awkward silence, then Roz says, “But you’re winning battle with hockey, yes? Make your body into best possible player, that is a battle too.”

Haas visibly perks up.

Roz grins, then walks back over to his own stall. “Besides,” he says over his shoulder, “Tiger stripes are beautiful.”

He drops his towel to get dressed, and Dykstra almost expects to see faint silver lines somewhere on his body, but there’s nothing. Huh. Maybe Roz is more of an appreciator than bragging about himself for once.

Later, Dykstra catches up with Roz in the parking lot. Roz left before him, but he’s on the phone now, which has apparently stalled his departure.

Dykstra gives him a half-wave, not trying to eavesdrop, but they’re parked only two cars apart.

“I learned new English word today,” Roz says into his phone, sounding very proud, while raising his hand in Dykstra’s direction and playing with his car keys. “Tiger stripes!” His face scrunches up. “What do you mean you know? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Dysktra unlocks his car. The last thing he hears before he gets in is Roz saying, absolutely outraged, “Of course I love your tiger stripes, but I didn’t have good word for it before and couldn’t tell you.”

Yeah. Roz is definitely an appreciator. Dykstra grins and starts his car. Maybe there’s really something to the Roz came to Ottawa for a woman theory, because that was the sound of a man not only deeply appreciative of tiger stripes, but of the entire person attached to it.

He is certainly very appreciative of his own wife and her tiger stripes and he’ll tell her that the moment he gets home.

#tiger stripes

Trending Tags

Recently Viewed Tags

#tiger stripes