Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The seconds tick on and the time on the jumbotron seems to drag on for hours while simultaneously passing in the blink of an eye. Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. The Edmonton Oilers and the Washington Capitals both desperate to hold the cup above their heads. The oilers stand 3-2 in the series and threaten to hoist the cup at home if the caps can’t pull through. 6 minutes left in the third period and the oilers hold a 3-1 lead. The crowd buzzes with nerves and excitement, one that would make anyone jump at the drop of a needle. And Cecilia Skinner is no exception. Though she isn’t blood to the family, Stuart Skinner was the greatest older brother she could ask for, and to be here, watching him stand on his head pulling off save after save to keep the two point lead? It was nothing short of euphoric.

3 minutes 12 seconds. Thompson skates to the bench as fast as he can, the sixth player hopping on the ice as soon his blades lift from it. And it seems not a moment later.

CRACK

Everyone freezes. Players, referees, the crowd. Cecilia. Stu teeters for a moment before falling limply, face first onto the ice, his body numb as his vision goes blurry and his ears ring. His helmet in two pieces on the ice. Wilson hadn’t meant to shoot it that hard, especially not at his head. No one does. Cecilias heart pounds as she stares at the ice, wide-eyed, medics quickly surrounding Stu as he tries to push himself up before the mitts of Connor McDavid, Zach Hyman, and Jake Walman push him back down.

“Don’t you dare get up Stu, the last thing we need is you hurting yourself worse.”

Hymo’s words ring in his mind, making it in but not before getting lost in the fog.
It hurts, but not really, a dull ache. Like the start of a migraine. The ringing fades.

Silence.

That’s not good, that’s never good.

A deep breath is pulled into his chest before he slowly pushes off of the ice, folding his legs so his pads sit beneath him. A breath leaves the whole stadium in time with his own. Though a furrow crinkles his brow as he looks around, a steady stream of blood running down his face that’s quickly smothered with a towel. Then his eyes jump to her. Cece. Shit.

Her panic is written plainly on her face, her whole body, the air around her even. He lets Walman and Hyman pick him up to his feet, managing a smile that expertly hides the spinning of the world around him, giving his sister and the crowd an air of ease as they whistle and cheer him off of the ice. Only making the pain in his head worse.

A good ten minutes of eerily murmured chatter fill Rogers place as they clean up the blood and the shards of Stu’s helmet. The game resumes at 2 minutes and 48 seconds left. The faceoff is lack luster at best. McDavid and Alexander Ovechkin had spoken during the break. A quiet agreement springing between the two captains as a much more casual game of passing plays out. Calvin Pickard and Thompson not doing much of anything at either end. The timer runs out and the horn blows. The oilers have won. But the stadium doesn’t explode like they had hoped it would. There was a hole, a loss, a sacrifice for the cup. It’s not until Stu, with a roll of gause wrapped around his head comes down the tunnel and carefully steps onto the ice that Rogers Place comes to life.

The team turning to mob him, with an ever so slight air of caution to touching his head. Ovi skating through his players and speaking to them all, hugging a few, patting the helmets of others. Watching the kids he admired on the ice finally win the cup they lost two finals to get with a fond smile. Tears are shed amongst the orange and blue, all of immense relief and sheer joy. Cecilia hardly manages to keep her tears in as she plops back into her ice side seat, her hand over her mouth as her head shakes. With what? Even she’s unsure. Relief? Fear? Dread? Happiness?

The cup is passed around with great pride and victory, nearly every player tasting its silver for the first time with a kiss that means more than a mothers. As Rogers Place empties and the families are let onto the ice, Cecilia doesn’t wait a moment to barrel towards Stu, sliding over the ice and bumping into him, wrapping her arms as much as she can around his chest protector.

“Fuck Stu I thought-... I’m glad you’re okay..”

Her voice carries her concern to start but she forces it down to let Stu enjoy the moment. The tension in her muscles easing as his arms wrap around her, sinking her into the blood and sweat soaked jersey. The sensation would be terrible save for this moment. The weight of two failures and the legacy of the 80s lifted off of the teams shoulders and the weary breath of a sister who thought she saw the end of her brother. All relishing in a victory.
Their victory.

----------------------------

“Stu, they told you not to drink for at least two weeks.”

Cecilia grabs Stu’s shoulders and looks up at him, speaking in a point blank matter. He was not going to be drinking, not if she could help it.

“Yea, well they also said that I should be crippled by nausea and terrible migraines, so you tell me Cece.”

The worst part about these siblings’ back and forth is that Cecilia can never tell when he’s bullshitting. At least not until his world is crumbling. He could have terrible migraine right now, but he’s smiling and giggling like nothing happened. Stu has perfected the skill of a content and worry free mask over the years. He was nothing if not a good actor.

“You’re such an asshole, you know that?”

A hearty chuckle leaves Stu’s chest as he pats Cecilia’s shoulder, his moustache curling up to his eyes to let the top row of his teeth partially show.

“How about this, since I don’t have anyone, you can come with me to the party tonight. That way you can babysit me and haul my sorry ass home in case something happens.”

She can’t help but feel like a bit of a last resort with the ‘since I don’t have anyone,’ but it’s an agreement she’s willing to make. Keep an eye on her brother, hang out in a room full of his hot as hell teammates. Yea that sounds great actually.

“On one condition.”

Stu’s eyebrow quirks up, a curious smirk on his lips as he looks at her like he’s trying to read her mind for the condition.

“You keep Leon away from me, especially when I eventually cave and get some booze in my system.”

It’s a quick, confident nod from Stu, a firm reassurance that he’s got her back the whole night.

"Oh of course, and as soon as Hymo, and Davo know you're coming I have no doubt they'll
help keep him busy too."

Chapter Text

The party is decently casual, everyone is dressed nicely but nothing formal, beer is spilled, laughs ring out over the music. Stu and Cecilia both keep one eye on each other. One never losing sight of the other save for the odd bathroom trip.

Stu's migraine stays dormant through all the chatter and noise, but he wouldn't dare admit to Cecilia that it's because of the whisky he's drank copious amounts of. Cecilia seems blissfully unaware of that detail as she sits at the dinner table, cheeks flushed and warm from the rum flowing through her as giggles and stories are shared between the wags as all of their respective dumbasses stumble around and dare each other to do all sorts of stupid things.

"Is Darnell seriously going to try and backflip off of the coffee table?"

Mikayla Nurse pushes herself up from her seat with worry laced in her voice before Lauren McDavid grabs her arm and pulls her back down.

"He'll be fine, girl! Look at him! Leo and Connor are right there to catch him!"

And somehow, he pulls it off, backflipping and landing on the hardwood before stumbling back and falling flat on his ass, though all of the guys erupt in cheers and whistles.

"Remind me again, why did we marry these guys?"

Alannah Hyman manages out between stifled giggles, her hand over her mouth as she watches them all co mingle like a pack of wild morons.

"Because they're hot! Duh!"

Lauren pipes up a little to quickly but no one seems to care, nods and another round of laughs being passed around before Cecilia gets up from her spot.

"I'll be right back, I gotta go to the bathroom really quick."

She stumbles out from her spot at the table and past the gaggle of hockey players and down the hallway to the bathroom. A quick check of her makeup and adjustment of her outfit is completed as she tousles her hair, restoring some of the volume she's lost over the nights activities. She opens the door and steps out, letting out quick yelp as she steps into Leon Draisaitl, she can't help but jump a bit as she lets out a breathy chuckle.

"Jesus Leo, you scared me! A little knock on the door to let me know you need the bathroom doesn't hurt, y'know!"

He doesn't say a word, and it is way more of an uncomfortable feeling then Cecilia was expecting. The air around them suddenly gets hard and heavy to breathe in as a smirk works onto his lips. His hands placing themselves delicately on her waist as he steps into her, forcing her backwards towards one of the spare rooms in Connor and Lauren’s house.

"Hey, hey Leon. What- what are you doing? I- I just wanna get back to the girls I didn't mean to-“

He cuts off her panicked rambling as he gently kicks the door shut behind him, spinning her with one swift, forceful movement and pinning her back against a wall with a soft thump. Cecilia's mind races as her eyes dart around, looking for ways to get out, one of Leon's hands quickly move to grip her chin, forcing her eyes to meet his. Forcing her to see how widely blown is pupils are, making the usually lighter blue eyes black in the dim city lights that filter into the room. His smirk only growing as a dark chuckle rumbles out of his chest, making all of Cecilia's hair stand on end. His head tilts and lowers to her neck, his hand tilting hers to the side to give himself more space. He can feel the tension in her body. How every muscle is coiled ready to act, but locked into place knowing how much of a disadvantage she's at with a nearly 6 inch height difference. He can hear how her heart pounds against her ribs like it's trying to break out of its boney casing. And the sharp breath she sucks in as his lips graze the tender skin. God .. it's perfect.

"Leon .. Leon please lets just- just let me go and I won't say anything, not a word."

He grins against the skin of her neck before slowly pulling back, staring down at her like he's sizing up his prey, sending a wave of cold dread through her body. He leans back in, his lips brushing against hers as she tries to retreat from them, pushing herself back into the wall as much as she can. His voice brushes against her ears and sends a shiver up her spine at the gruff words that match the stubble on his face.

"You'd be better at begging if it was for me instead of against me.~ "

An almost pathetic whimper leaves Cecilia's throat before Leo swallows it down taking her lips in what is a very unwilling kiss to say the least. His hands grabbing her wrists and pinning them at her sides before his thigh slips between her legs, pressing up as he leans his weight into her, trapping her against the wall with no way out. Her muscles still straining against him despite the futility of her efforts.

His tongue swipes against her bottom lip, in time with a breathy sigh leaving his chest-

"Cece ?! Lauren said you'd be back in a sec-"

Stu's voice is full of innocent concern before he opens the door. His jaw clenching and the drunken glossiness in his eyes fading as a fury sparks fueled by the alcohol in his blood.

"Leo."

Leo pulls away and backs up almost instantly, Stu isn't a very intimidating guy aside from his height. But Leo can see plain and clear that he's fucked up, and he's fucked up bad.

"Stu, buddy, listen. She-she uhm .. she asked for it I mean look at her she's-”

He doesn't get a chance to finish before the collar of his shirt is wrapped around Stu's fist and his back is slammed back against a wall. Stu's face mere millimetres from Leo's as he speaks in a low, growling tone, Leo's cocky and confident demeanour suddenly evaporated. Replaced with a wide eyed, fearful man who has to do his best to swallow down a quip to keep himself from pissing Stu off further.

"You touch my sister one more fucking time? And I swear to god Draisaitl. Count your days. The hockey world treating you like a god doesn't mean fuck all to me here."

Stu pops Leon in the chin before letting him go, turning to Cecilia and checking over her, he shoots Leon one last glare before he walks her back out into the party. Leaving Leon trembling slightly by himself.

Stu stops mid way through the hallway and sets his hands on either of Cecilia's shoulders, a tender care in his gaze as he thoroughly looks her over, inspecting every pore for so much as a nick or scratch.

"Tell me what happened. Did he pull you away, did he give you something, did he force you??”

Cecilia, with a shaky sigh, collects her thoughts to shake her head at her older brother.

"No, no. Well .. kinda .. He followed me to the bathroom and pushed me back into the spare room .. and you saw everything else that happened .. "

Stu tries to swallow down the new flare of fury that boils in his chest but doesn't manage to catch all of it as his face twists into a bitter expression. He gently squeezes her shoulders before a long breath accompanies a nod.

"Alright .. as long as he didn't hurt you .. just- let me know if he does anything. I swear if he so much as looks at you-"

"-Thank you, Stu. I appreciate it. Let's just get back to the party."

Stu can't argue much with Cecilia’s words, he can definitely get a bit carried away at times.

But she's fine .. physically at least. So back to the party they go.

Chapter Text

*A week or so later*

While the parties, benders, and celebrations for the Oilers' victory seems never-ending a lasting tension remains between Stu and Leo. So much so that the team can't help but notice. Connor comes up to Stu at Zach's party closer to the start before Stu gets a chance to drink himself stupid.

"Hey! Stu! Can I talk to ya for a second, buddy?"

Stu turns around from talking with Mattias Ekholm and Cecilia, closing off their conversation and keeping a keen eye on Cecilia as she walks away.

"Yea, of course! What do ya need, Davo?

"What is happening with you and Leo?"

Stu lets out a bit of a flustered chuckle at Connor’s blunt questioning, his gaze falling to the floor as he tries to scrounge for an answer.

"W-well uhm .. wow I just- a little on the nose don't you-"

"Don't bullshit me, Stu. You two can hardly look at each other without snarling at each other. What happened at my party?"

Stu hesitates, shifting uncomfortably on his feet as his hand goes to rub the back of his neck, his voice lowering as he speaks.

"He went after Cece .. And I might have lashed out a bit."

"STU!! You tell me this now!?? "

Stu flinches as Connor raises his voice, the taller man shrinking in on himself slightly before he catches himself and hides it. His own voice suddenly becoming much more timid.

"S-sorry I just- I didn't want you to get mad at Leo. He's your best friend and I-“

"I don't care!! He promised me that he'd quit doing shit like this!! I'm not gonna put up with him being a dick to chicks like this! Your sister or not!!"

Before Stu gets a chance to catch his arm and stop him, Connor disappears into the bundle of people, going to look for Leon. He can't help but feel a bit of panic rise up in his chest, he wants to go follow after but his feet freeze in place. His throat suddenly feeling all to dry and the crowd of people despite being all close and well known by Stu feeling like to much. His eyes jump around in a panicked scan, landing on Connor talking to Leo. Before he knows what he’s doing, his feet race him to the bathroom. The door locking behind him with a soft click.

Time passes in a blur, going all to quickly and painfully slow all in one migraine inducing span of no more then five minutes. Memories past of Stu being reprimanded at his fathers hand for ‘being a snitch.’ Drunken lashing outs that Cecilia and Stu were both at the mercy of, though mostly he took the brunt of them. The only thing grounding him back to his physical form being the cold water running over his fingertips from the sinks tap.

Knock knock.

“Stu?.. You in there?”

Leon’s voice hits his ears and makes his stomach churn. This is the last thing he needs right now. A wave of nausea hits him out of the blue that makes him gag on his own spit. He muffles the sound as best as he can but there is no way Leon didn’t hear that.

“Y-yea, do you.. Do you need in here? I can go somewhere else.”

Stu cringes at himself, he sounds exactly how he feels, weak, pathetic and sick to his stomach.

Leon’s next strand of words make him sound more annoyed then anything.. Another punch to Stu’s gut.

“No. Davo told me to come talk to you.”

Stu’s doubles over as the nausea from his nerves send a dry wretch echoing into the tiled bathroom. Before he knows it he’s on his knees, leaning over the toilet and wretching into it. A set of hands quickly comes to tangle in his hair and pull it back out of his face. Stu had sworn he locked the door, but there was Leo, a slight crack in the usual stern and stoic facade that a warm softness creeps through. Pity.. it has to be.. Right?

The burning heat of bile claws up Stu’s throat as he wretches into the toilet. Leo wincing a bit at the sight as silent tears roll down his cheeks. He flushes the toilet as his head hangs in shame over it. The hunched over position is less then comfortable but there is no way in hell Stu is sitting up to let Leo see the panic attack etched into his every pore.

“Stu you uh.. You alright?”

Leo’s voice rings out softer then Stu’s ever heard it before. It’s not pity, it can’t be. Stu brings the hem of his grey t-shirt up to wipe his face dry of both spit and tears before he forces his uneasy legs to stand. Leo’s hand moves with an almost natural grace to Stu’s shoulder, steadying him as he sways for a few moments and mutters a shaky response.

“Y-yea.. I’m fine. You go back to the party and I’ll be right there.”

It’s plain to see on Leo’s face, his bullshit detectors are blaring in his head right now. His lips flatten into a thin line as he nods, slowly sliding his hand off of Stu’s shoulder like he would tip and fall if he moved to fast. His steps carry a cautious air to them as he slowly steps back. Glancing once more over his shoulder before he steps out of the bathroom and leaves Stu to his own accord.


A weird sense of emptiness fills the space. The room had felt suffocatingly small just a second before but Leo’s sudden lack of presence leaves him in deafening silence. He brushes his hair back and tucks it neatly behind his ears, each strand slotting in like a practiced routine. His feet carrying him out of the bathroom as the source of his panic shifts to a feeling he isn’t quite sure he likes.


—-----------------------------


Cecilia and Connor keep a close eye on Stu and Leo throughout the night. It’s a weird thing to see to say the least. Their faces slightly flushed with the rosy hue of a hangover bound to kick their asses. Stu is his usual life of the party going self, so Cecilia and Connor both assume that the chat between him and Leon went well. He dances circles around just about everyone and works himself into a heavy sweat going along with any song that had a line dance to it, even if he was the only one on the living room turned dance floor.

Though him and Leon seem to get close throughout the night. Intentionally close. Too close. ‘Bumping’ shoulders in a way that forces their eyes to meet and leaves Stu with a goofy grin on his lips. Stu trying his damndest to get Leon onto the floor, to no avail. And the two observers can’t help but notice how Leon almost stalks Stu with his gaze over the rim of his glass. Sneaking in almost shameless glances as Stu dances like the white girl the team swears he was destined to be.

By the time three rolls around, most of the Hyman house has cleaned out. Cecilia had picked up a ride home with Connor and Lauren and everyone else had dispersed with their DD’s or in the called cabs. Stu and Leon left as some of the last few to stumble out of the front door as the cab Leon called awaits.

“You sure you don’t need me to call you a cab?”

Stu leans heavily on Leo as he lazily shakes his head, his eyes half lidded as hiccups interrupt his slur of a sentence.

“Nnnnope! Becau-*hic*-se I am goin home- *hic*.. With you!”

The words take a second to register in Leo’s mind as he drags Stu towards the cabs back door, his brow furrowed as he tries to make sense of the statement through his own liquor induced haze.

“But our houses are in opposite directions.. That would cost so much more for the ride..”

Stu only giggles as he swings open the cab door and plunks himself in the back seat, scooting over to leave just enough room for Leo to sit beside him. The lack of explanation making the other man even more weary. But he slowly seats himself in beside the shitfaced idiot and buckles himself in. Watching Stu fumble with his with a more fond expression then he’d like to admit to. 

Leo pries for an answer from Stu but doesn’t get one until they reach his house, where Stu climbing out after him makes his cheeks heat up with a rush of embarrassment and something he can’t quite name yet.

The words that leave Stu’s mouth are anything but coherent as he’s drug along by Leo, who struggled himself on his feet even before this. The key clicks in the doors latch and lets the pair in, a dark refuge from the impeding lights of the city scape.

“The spare room down the hall is free, I just gotta check that Lenny didn’t demolish it when Davo brought him over.”

Stu mumbles a soft ‘mhmm’ as he focuses on taking off his sneakers. Leon pads down the hallway with one hand hovering over the wall to fall into as everything wobbles around him. As he flicks on the light, not only making him revolt at the sudden sensation, he notices the comforter slightly askew from Lenny lying on it. He takes a step forward to go fix it before a set of arms snake around his waist. His eyes going wide as his whole body locks up. One hand slips out to flick off the light and Leo can’t find it in himself to move. Stu presses his chest into Leo’s back before the side of his head comes to rest on the others shoulder. The hairs of his moustache brushing against Leo’s neck that send a warm wave of tingles through him before the soft lips underneath it trail up and down the tender skin the makes Leo’s head spin more then he thought it could.

“I’m-.. I don’t swing that way Stu. I-”

Leo’s cut off by a sharp breath as Stu slips around to the front, taking Leo’s lips in a soft but meaningful kiss. Soft. Slow. Rhythmic. Something to get lost in. Like being lulled into sleep by a soft lullaby. And despite how straight he thought he was. He kisses back. The pairs unreliable feet leading them to the bed where they finally break for air, Stu speaking first in between panting breaths.

“Stay.. please?”

Leo nods. Lying down on top of this godforsaken goalie. 

Chapter Text

Leo stirs from a sleep deeper then he’s had in a long while but the last thing he’s going to do is admit it. He cracks his eyes open and winces at the bright morning light that filters in. He rolls over onto his back to see the other side of the spare bed nicely made. He sits up and furrows his brow looking through the room for some evidence as to why the hell he’s in the spare room and not his own. 

His eyes trail down to his shirt on the floor, he looks down at himself to see his jeans from last night. But a trail of tender purple and red marks spanning up his torso make his eyes go wide. A few flickers of Stu last night grazing his memory, stirring up all kinds of uncomfortable questions that make Leo’s stomach churn.

A pained groan sounds from down the hallway as Leo is suddenly brought back to reality. He clears his throat before he slips out of the sheets and tries to straighten his hair as he pads to the bathroom. Stu is sat on the bathroom floor with his knees curled tight to his chest, his head rested back against the wall as his eye stay squeezed shut, like even the dim light coming in the window is to much for him.

“Stu?.. You uh.. You okay?”

Stu forces his head up and his eyes open to look up at Leo at the almost worried tone in his voice. His face twisted into a bitterly pained expression, his usually dazzling blue eyes a dull, bloodshot grey. Stu is anything but okay, but he nods anyways, croaking out a response.

“Yea.. yea sorry. Just got a headache.”

“Bullshit.”

Leo’s word comes out a bit more of a snap then he would have liked. His jaw clenches as he pushes the door open the rest of the way. He tries to shake the feeling that threatens to soften his solid exterior but the worry leaches into his eyes as he looks Stu over.

Stu shrinks under Leo’s gaze, his head tucking into his knees as his eyes trace over the pattern of the tiles on the floor. Trying to keep his emotions from spilling out in front of the other man. He shakes his head, swallowing down the lump that forms in his throat.

“I just need to go home. It’s just a bad hangover, I promise.”

Leo lets out a stifled sigh, his hand coming up to run through his hair as he tries to process all of the feelings churning through him. The glimpses of their intimate night, the feeling of never wanting it to end- he awkwardly sticks a hand out. Helping Stu to his feet while keeping his eyes from meeting the goalie’s. The air feels like breathing in molasses as they both stand there in tense silence before Leo breaks it.

“I’ll call a cab.”

Stu seats himself at the kitchen table in the meantime. Leo watches Stuart’s every move. The pained stifled breaths that draw from his lungs every few seconds, the shuffle his feet slowly move in and his hand hovering over something solid to catch him at all times like he doesn’t trust his own two feet. The way his eyes fall closed in a way that makes it seem like he’s trying to forget, or remember something. Leo can’t quite tell. There’s an eerie, observant silence for the whopping five minutes they have to wait for the cab to show up at Leo’s door. The same hobbled gait carries Stu outside the door. Still in the exact same clothes he walked in with last night. The same shirt that now hides evidence of their night, a secret that aches and eats away at Leo as the door latches shut just after a weary word.

“Thanks.”

Leo’s feet carry him to the couch where he falls onto it not a moment later, his mouth hung slightly agape with words unsaid. Churning feelings burning a hole in his heart. He reaches for one of the throw pillows and lies down on his side, curling himself around it. It isn’t long before he loses himself to the pieces of last night that slowly put themselves together.

The way Stu looked, confident, poised on the floor. Nothing short of being in his element as his hips swayed and his feet moved in perfect rhythm to the beat- the way their lips moved together. The way Stu would turn and smile back at him, and the way he threw his head back to laugh as Leo’s gaze darted away from his- the way his head rolled back against the pillow as Leo nipped at his neck. The sound of his voice as he sung his favourite songs like he was being paid to- the sound of his moans as Leo worked him through his jeans.

He shakes his head as his phone buzzes, sitting up and adjusting the sudden tightness in the front of his pants to realize he’s spent two hours lying there in his own head. And the feeling only seems to worsen as he sees who texted him.

—-------------------------

It’s a consistent struggle for Stu to keep what little contents are in his stomach down as the cab drives through the quiet city streets. Every minute detail of the world around him making every nerve in his body fire with nausea and lingering, aching pain. The drag path to his front door seems like a marathon. The chime of his keys as he fumbles with them stinging behind his eyes, making the door latches click and the cool air that carries his own scent all the more comforting. He makes it to the island in the centre of his cozy little house in the midst of the cities whirr, filling a glass reused a dozen times over, sat beside the sinks tap before reaching for a little pill bottle. Looking over the label with a hesitant huff before he presses down on the cap and twists. He pours out a little white pill into the palm of his hand and throws it back into his mouth, chasing it with water. The knowledge of that little pills power is a familiar comfort that sinks in his stomach with painful memories attached. He drags himself to the couch and falls down onto it, making himself comfortable before shutting his eyes. Hoping that nothing comes of him and his old friend in the meantime.  

He’s quickly pulled into a deep but not exactly restful sleep. One that’s filled with all sorts of weird dreams and images that only fade after he’s slowly let back into the real world a couple hours later. His body a comfortable numb that makes his every movement lax and lazy. He licks his lips and nibbles on his bottom lip, a faint smile curling under his moustache in the familiar distant sensation. The migraine nowhere to be felt. Stu’s eyes eventually trace to the coffee table where his phone lies dormant. He sits up with a bit more effort then usually required before reaching out to grab it. He flops back down on the couch and rolls onto his side, holding the camera up to unlock it with his face. He opens up his texts and scrolls through to find Leo’s contact, taking a good few tries to type most of the words as his fingers fail to co-operate. A soft giggle leaving his throat as he thinks about last night. The few memories that he didn’t lose to the hangover playing over and over again and his usual sense to leave it alone long gone at this point.

‘Hey, I gotta appt with the massage people at Rogers at 7 tn. Could u drive me?’


—--------------------


Leo stares down slack jawed at his phone, keeping his finger on it to ensure Stu’s words don’t fade into the black reflection of his own face. His mind races with all kinds of questions that he can’t answer. Not that fast at least, he opens his phone but goes to his contacts, pressing on Connor’s to call him first.

“Hey Leo, need me to bring you some food again?”

“H-Hey Davo actually I uhm.. I need some advice?”

Leo can swear he hears Connor’s confused expression on the other line.

“I mean, sure, but you say that like you’re about to ask me some wild shit dude.”

Leo hesitates, Connor isn’t wrong. In fact he’s entirely correct, but he still wants to get it out. Even as the words die in his throat.

“...Leo? You there?”

“O-oh! Yea, sorry I just-..”

Another awkward pause rings out as Leo tries to muster up the courage to spit out what he’s thinking. Hoping his brain can muster as vague of a response as possible that Connor will understand.

“... Leo! Dude! Just spit it out already!”

“Connor.. Connor I think I might be gay.”

The silence is like dead air between them. A flush quickly covers Leo’s cheeks as he tries to back track, breaking the silence before it can eat away at him for a moment longer.

“Er- I mean- I think I don’t know, Con. I’m just spit balling here. I just I don’t know how to explain-”

“-Who?”

“What?”

“Who’s making you question all this? He better be a good person or I swear to god I’ll kill him.”

“S-so you’re- hold on. You’re okay with this?”

“Of course I am, dumbass! You’re my best friend, why wouldn’t I be!”

Leo sits stunned on the other line for a moment. He was expecting Connor to accept it but not so openly, or quickly. It’s honestly more of a relief then he thought.

“Th-thanks, Con.. I appreciate it.”

“Of course dude. But you still need to answer my question.”

“O-oh.. r-right.. About that.”

“It can’t possibly be that bad Leo come on!”

The name feels like it’s choking Leo the longer it sits on his tongue. He can’t find it in himself to spit it out. To get his relief.

“S-sorry I’m getting another call. Gotta go!”

“Leo wait!-”

Leo hangs up on Connor and drops his phone to his lap, dragging both hands up his face and through his hair to grab a handful of it as he lets out a long, stressed out breath. Where is he supposed to go from here? What is he supposed to do? Stu was way to drunk to have known what he was doing. It was just a heat of the moment thing. It had to have been. These feelings are just him over thinking things, nothing more. But it doesn’t change the worry that grows in the pit of his stomach. That look on his face, the dull look in his eyes, the pain in his every movement. God he cares. Really cares, more then anything he’s used to. He doesn’t care about getting the girl to bed and slipping out of the sheets before she wakes up for once. He needs to make sure Stu’s alright. That he’s cared for.

Before he really gets a second thought in the matter, Leo’s feet drag him to his room, picking out a set of clean yet comfortable clothes and setting them on the bed before sending his text.

‘Sure, see you in an hour.’

Chapter Text

Stu smiles down at his phone as he looks at Leo’s response, peeling himself off of the couch to drag his sorry ass to the shower. He leaves his phone on the couch as his head spins with the lingering effects of the pill. A soft chuckle leaving his chest as he catches himself on the wall, keeping a hand on it until he reaches his bedroom down the shorter hallway. His bedroom door creaks as it opens, his little house isn’t much, especially considering how much he’s getting paid a year. But he didn’t feel the need to upgrade, the landlord was decent and he hasn’t had any problems yet. Why bother? Nothing here has felt permanent anyways, even though he was born and raised here he always felt like he was being pushed away from the city. Between family drama and the endless noise around his performance in net even now that they’ve won the cup, this city hasn’t ever given him something to call home. Not yet at least. 

His shower is one of the few places he can seek refuge. His incredibly detailed hair care routine giving him a small sense of stability and care amongst everything. The smell of the citrus, mint and sage mixing together as he lathers his hair with shampoo, following up with washing his moustache all the same. His eyes flutter shut as he drags the soap bar over his skin, a slow, soothing motion that lets him pretend he’s not alone. Even for just a second. A smile pulling at his lip as the ghosting sensation of Leo’s stubble scratches against his neck..

————————

Leo steps up to Stu’s front door and knocks. Running his fingers back through his hair a bit nervously, his mids still damp from the shower and everything on top of his head fluffier then he likes it. He knocks again, a bit louder. No response. He cautiously turns the knob and steps in, peeking his head in and calling out.

“Hello?… Stu? You home?”

The silence makes Leo’s stomach sink with that same worry that ate at him back home. He steps out of his shoes and shuts the door behind himself. His ears straining once they pick up sounds coming from down the hallway. He treads carefully across the laminate flooring as he nears the door the sound is coming from. He raises his hand to knock on the door just as the door opens.

Stu stands there with a towel hung loosely on his hips, his hair flowing down from his roots, damply clinging to the sides of his face. His eyes still slightly glossy but suddenly a lot more sober as the two blankly stare at each other for a few moments.

“H-hey Leo..”

Leo short circuits as his eyes rake over Stu’s dampened form, his muscles glistening in the bright lights behind him. His lips hang slightly open, his tongue darting out to moisten them before he gets his brain back with a shake of his head. He turns away and faces down the hallway, ‘fixing’ his hair as he tries to play it cool.

“Heyy S-sorry I uhm.. I’m a bit earlier then I said I’d be..”

Stu chuckles softly and shakes his head, seeming more amused by the whole situation then Leo. He steps back from the door into his bedroom and starts to shut the door.

“Let me get changed, then maybe you’ll stop blushing.~”

As soon as the door latches shut, Leo’s hands go up to his cheeks, feeling the warmth that confirms he is in fact blushing. He silently curses himself and grumbles as he walks to the living room, sitting himself on the little fabric couch as he waits. His eyes wandering around the cozy little space. It’s simple. But not his own, temporary. Like he’s been waiting for the news of a trade or to be sent down at any moment. No pictures hung, no little details that make the space his. Nothing aside from exactly what he needs to be comfortable. It makes the pain that had just settled in his heart flare up again. He had known Stu to struggle with things but he never showed it. He was always smiling and laughing when he arrived, it was only between bad periods or after bad losses did the struggle show. 

Stu walks back out into the living room, oblivious to Leo’s inner speculation. Dressed in a casual pair of shorts that hang just above his knees and a white t shirt, his hair tucked behind his ears in a usual style he’s perfected at this point. A smile allowing his top row of teeth to poke out underneath his moustache that has to be due for a trim at this point.

“Ready to go?”

Leo takes a quick look of Stu in before he nods and stands up from the couch with a soft grunt.

“Oh, yea.. I thought it wasn’t until 7 though.. shouldn’t we wait for another half hour or something?”

Stu chuckles as he steps into his slides and pats his pockets, turning back around to grab his phone from the couch as Leo’s eyes follow him.

“It’s six thirty, it takes fifteen minutes to get there with minimal traffic, twenty if it’s bad and we have to slip through some back alleys. I need five minutes to park and get my stuff together, and then I like having an extra five or ten minutes to get settled and in the building.”

Leo rolls his eyes and scoffs with a fond smile. Opening up the door for Stu and following him out without really thinking.

“How could I forget! You’re a goalie.”

Stu returns Leo’s snark with a playful scoff, though he has to admit that he’s quite surprised at Leo’s playfulness. A nagging voice in the back of his mind screams at his optimism, but he can’t help but feel a spark right in that moment. A real one. Leading them both to Leo’s car with a warm air he hasn’t ever breathed before. At least not like this..

The car ride is quiet, but not uncomfortable, the pair trying to process their feelings and collect their thoughts (one handling it much better then the other) as the radio plays peacefully in the background. As they pull into the parking garage and Leo’s car comes to a halt he holds out a hand and quickly unbuckles his seat belt, opening up the door and climbing out to get Stu’s door for him. Unsure himself as to why but he doesn’t really try to stop it either.  Stu smiles up at Leo as he waits, stepping out of the car and looking Leo up and down with a teasing gleam in his eyes.

“And here I thought chivalry was dead.~”

Leo chokes on his own breath, slamming the door shut behind Stu as he huffs, shoulder checking the goalie into the side of his car with a huff. Stu lets out a hearty chuckle as he catches himself to keep from denting the side of the dark grey Porshe, watching with a bright smile as Leo stomps ahead leaving Stu in his dust. Stu follows behind at a casual pace, giving Leo the distance he’s created for a moment.

Leo fidgets with his keys in his sweat pockets, his mind racing as his teeth grit, trying to keep himself from reacting anymore then he has. Why would he do that?? He doesn’t like Stu. No he’s not- is he? He said it to Connor, and he meant it. Right?? It was just the heat of the moment, sure, he was a great kisser, and he gets butterflies as soon as Stu looks his way, and he’s way more attractive then any girl he’s tried to-

“Leo! You missed the door, hun!”

HUN?!? You’re kidding. Leo’s mouth goes dry as his feet stick to the pavement, he turns back to where Stu’s voice was coming from and starts back towards him. His eyes pasted to the ground as he walks in. He can feel Stu’s warm little smile pressing on his very soul. A smile threatens to break through at the sensation but he keeps his head down. His mind still trying to convince him that there’s nothing between them.

Stu keeps closer to Leo the whole walk to the team deemed ‘rehab centre’ in the arena, a proximity that makes Leo’s palms clammy and makes the urge to simultaneously sprint in the other direction and step closer stronger then he can ignore. Stu pushes open the heavy, metal door with a loud clunk, revealing a room that Leo doesn’t frequent during the season unless he feels he ‘needs it.’

Sean, one of the main physiotherapists for the team, greets the pair warmly as they step in.

“Hey good to see ya Stu! And it’s a pleasure having you in my domain again, Leo.”

Leo rolls his eyes and huffs, a slight smile on his face as he watches Stu walk over to a steaming glass door, grabbing a white towel off of a little hook.

“He just asked me to drive him. I don’t need anything done.”

“Aw come on!”

Stu calls from behind the closed curtain of a changing stall, the smile under his moustache audible in his voice.

“Your shoulders are up to your ears, Leo! It wouldn’t hurt you to breathe for once!”

Leo scowls and crosses his arms over his chest, turning away from both Sean and Stu. Putting on a petulant act despite how great a massage sounds right now.

“No. I’m fine.”

Stu laughs from the other side of the curtain before he pulls it open, his hair tied back in a small bun and a towel hanging on his hips just like before. God that has to be on purpose. Stu has to know how he feels. Is it mutual? Maybe he’s just being an ass.

“Get your sorry ass in the sauna, Leo. You’re here. You’re getting treated.”

Leo’s eyes follow Stu almost shamelessly, his feet following soon after as the goalie disappears into a cloud of steam. The sight isn’t lost on Sean but he doesn’t make a comment, instead going into the back and grabbing his supplies and a second set of hands to help him out.

As soon as Leo steps into the sauna he feels Stu’s eyes hit him. The heat of the steam hardly comparable to the heat that flushes his cheeks. He sits down on the wooden bench across from Stu, he can’t help but let his eyes wander over the other mans muscles, swallowing down the suggestive thoughts that get louder and louder the lower his eyes go. Stu’s head leans back and his eyes shut, a smug smirk pulling at his lips like he knows exactly what he’s doing to the other man.

For Stu the next 15 minutes are blissful and relaxing, for Leo? It’s a constant battle inside of his mind to keep his thoughts from taking autonomy, constantly shifting and adjusting under his towel as he tries to take his mind away from the man glistening in front of him.

Leo’s snapped out of his distress as Sean knocks on the door. Stu picks his head back up and stands up with a soft grunt, his eyes hardly open as his vessel carries him out of the sauna. Leo’s eyes trace over Stu’s figure one last time before he stands up and follows suit. Allowing Trent, the other main physio guy to lead him over to his own table. And for a moment Leo forgets why he hates coming here and being worked on. Only for Trent to hit a sore spot almost instantly and reminding him why.

“Ow! Jesus fuck! Can’t you ease into it a bit!?”

Trent simply chuckles as he rolls his eyes, working through Leo’s neck to start.

“I am, it isn’t my fault you’re made out of plywood.”

Leo scowls as he grits his teeth, trying to breathe through the pain of the tension he holds in every muscle. A long, breathy sigh on the other table gives Leo a slight distraction as he lifts his head up to look at Stu. Who if it weren’t for bones would be a puddle dripping off of the table onto the floor, and the more Leo watches the more he hears the soft, incoherent mumbles slipping out from Stu’s lips. He raises an eyebrow and glances back at Trent, motioning towards Stu with a subtle flick of his head.

“Hey, Trent.. what’s the deal with Stu over there?”

Trent glances over at Stu and smiles, working now through Leo’s shoulders. 

“It’s a goalie thing. Every single goalie that gets on one of these tables melts. You players take a lot more to work to settle, but them? They’ll sit there and blabber all of the tension out of their bodies as soon as you get working on them.”

Leo lets an amused huff out of his nose as he watches Stu, a warm smile tugging at his lips. The sharp pain of Trent’s hands fading into a dull ache. He lies there watching Stu as the world fizzles into the background. He only realizes his eyes were closed when Trent pats his back and asks him to flip over. With a soft groan he peels himself off of the table and flips over onto his back, letting his head roll over to the side to watch Stu again.

Trent and Sean both exchange a knowing glance, but they don’t say anything. Not yet.

By the time the two finish their treatments, Stu stands up and sways on his feet, letting his eyes flutter shut for a moment. Leo sits himself up and tries to quickly move to stand, but his body forces him into a lax, lazy movement.

Stu’s warm chuckle hits Leo’s ears and sends a shiver down his spine. The smile from before spreading over Leo’s face again.

“Wow, I didn’t know your shoulders could go that low.~”

Leo scoffs and rolls his eyes at Stu’s comment, but that damned smile only grows. He tries to sound annoyed as he grumbles his way back to get changed into his clothes. 

Stu follows suit after whispering a few hushed words to Sean. He doesn’t say a word to Leo as they step out together. Only waving a quick farewell to Trent and Sean as they walk out. Shoulders brushing and the small space left between them feeling charged with a static that pulls them closer together.

“Thank you for driving me Leo.”

Stu breaks the silence as they step into the parking garage. A soft, warm hum to his voice.

“Oh.. of course. I mean.. it was nice. I uhm.. I don’t think I’ve ever had that good of a treatment before.”

Stu’s smile widens as he listens to Leo’s nervous rambling. Another soft chuckle leaving his chest as they get up to Leo’s car. He lets himself in this time, sitting in a content silence as Leo starts the car and gets buckled in. 

Leo props his elbow on the centre console as he drives, his fingers fiddling with the cap of a water bottle left in the cup holder from a few days ago. Stu sees the window and takes a shot.

He gently slides his hand under Leo’s, letting the other man’s fingers fall into place between his, not closing in case Leo wants to pull away. Leo’s breath catches for a moment as his muscles go stiff. Stu panics for a moment, moving to pull his hand away.

But Leo stops him.

Closing his fingers around the others hand.

Chapter Text

A few weeks go by with a quiet back and forth between the two. Nothing said outwardly to anyone else or each other, but some tender moments snuck in between their consistently increasing ‘hang outs.’ Cece has been out of town since the Stanley Cup Parade, so there has been fortunately no push back yet. Though Stu knows the moment Cece finds out who it is that he’s head over heels for, there will be hell to pay. 

Stu looks himself over in the mirror, straightening the collar of his black dress shirt, making sure it’s perfectly tucked into dress pants with not one crease out of place. He debates tying his hair back into a small ponytail or bun but settles for his usual slicked back look. Before he gets another moment to overthink his outfit, Leo knocks on the door. A warm smile pulls at Stu’s lips as he steps out of the bathroom and shuts off the light, walking to the front door and opening it up for Leo. 

The forwards lips curl into a slight smirk as he looks Stu up and down.

“Wow.. you look incredible.”

Stu chuckles as he takes in Leo’s light gray suit, with no tie of course. His hair slightly damp and collected into strands in a way that drives Stu absolutely mad. 

“Oh-.. th-thank you.. I-.. I don’t even compare to you, you’re-”

“Oh shut up.. you know compliments aren’t my thing just take it and get in the car.”

Stu chuckles again at Leo’s firm shut down of his nervous rambling, more relieved then anything since he really doesn’t feel worthy of any of Leo’s compliments and explaining that feels like a helluva a lot more work then anything else.

He grabs his phone and his keys and stuff them in his pocket before sliding on his brown dress shoes, bending over to do up the laces. He can swear he feels Leo drinking in the sight of him but he doesn’t dare say a thing. He steps out and locks the door behind them. Leo’s hand brushes Stu’s, not yet grasping it though. He’s always nervous to show any affection where someone else might see. Reputation or whatever it is he tells himself. 

Leo takes the lead for a moment to open up Stu’s door. Something he hasn’t done since the parking lot at Rogers. This time Stu skips the quip and smiles at Leo instead, settling into his seat as Leo walks over to his. 

The pair have fallen into a routine, they both know the passwords to each others phones and the drivers phone is always handed over to the passenger to pick what’s played over Bluetooth. Leo always has the same old reliable mix of country and rock, while Stu always like to throw a few ‘fun’ songs in or frankly anything new he hears that he likes. 

The car rides usually have minimal banter but neither party minds. Leo’s phone chimes and Stu lets out a scoff as he looks down at it.

“Kaner’s in town.. he wants to meet up with you and see the cup when you have it..”

Leo’s nose crinkles slightly as he almost barks out a reply.

“Tell him I’m taking it to Cologne.”

“But I thought you said-“

“Tell him I’m taking it to Cologne.”

The hint finally clicks in Stu’s mind as he scrolls up through texts, trying to see how Leo usually talks to their former teammate and seeing nothing but dry responses to Evander initiatives. It’s more amusing then anything else.

“There, sent.. what do we do about now though? There’s still a big party or two yet to come with the team.. the asshats bound to slip in and get details from someone.”

Leo keeps his eyes forward as he pulls into the parking lot. Shutting off the car before taking his phone from Stu.

“You just enjoy dinner, babe.. I got it.”

The words hit Stu’s ears and nearly make him light headed. He can see the hearts in his eyes as Leo steps out of the car and walks around to open his door for him. A goofy smile stays plastered on Stu’s lips as Leo opens the door, his brow furrowing as he leans down and sets a hand on Stu’s thigh.

“Stu? You okay? Is your concussion acting up again!? We can go right back home-“

Stu snaps out of his lovestruck daze and turns to Leo, undoing his seatbelt and climbing out.

“No no I’m fine I just-.. you’ve never called me babe before.”

“O-oh right.. sorry I can stop it just slipped out you know-“

“No! God no! Don’t you dare!”

He reaches down and intertwines Leo’s fingers with his own, despite how the other man tenses and his eyes jump around to everyone within eyeshot.

“I didn’t say I didn’t like it Leo..~”

Stu’s gesture and slight tease makes Leo’s brain short circuit. Letting him forget his public insecurities even for the brief couple of hours they’re eating. They both pull back up to Stu’s house with full bellies and warm faces from the wine they drank. Stu steps out of the car and turns back to wait for Leo. Taking his hand and pressing it up to his lips. 

“Thank you for tonight, Leo.. it was great getting all dressed up for you.”

Leo cracks a more genuine and full smile as he uses his free hand to wave dismissively.

“Aw it’s nothing, babe.. if I knew you’d look this good for me I would have taken you out sooner!”

Stu leans into Leo’s side a bit before breaking away to unlock the door, looking at the darkened, empty space with a slight frown.

“Are you busy tomorrow?”

“Uhhhh I don’t think so.. why?”

“I was uhm.. I was wondering if maybe you’d stay-“

The word hardly gets out of Stu’s mouth before Leo’s face lights up, he turns back around and sprints to his car, grabbing a little duffel bag and running back up to Stu.

“What- Did- did you seriously pack an overnight bag!? You fuckin dunce!”

Stu’s words really hold no bite as he laughs, Leo leaping up the few steps to wrap his arms around Stu’s waist and crash their lips into each other.

Stu’s breath catches for a moment before he starts to gently kiss back, not giving Leo nearly the same amount of fervour that he’s being given out of fear of scaring him off until the door clicks shut behind them. Stu takes a few steps forward as his eyes flutter shut, pressing Leo against the door as their lips move together in perfect synchronicity. 

Leo’s tongue drags against Stu’s lower lip, asking for permission before Stu’s teeth part, a breathy moan leaking out of Stu’s lips as Leo’s tongue reaches in and tastes every inch of the goalies mouth that he can manage. 

When they eventually break for air, Leo finally tosses his bag to the side of the doorway his hands coming up to hold the sides of Stu’s head, tilting it down slightly so their foreheads rest against one another.

“God fuck-.. Stu.. I’m-.. I’m fucking crazy about you. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.. since that first night at my place..”

Stu’s heart stutters in his chest as he looks deep into Leo’s eyes. He tries to find some piece of a lie. Something that would tell him that he’s just saying this to make him feel better. But there’s nothing. Nothing but utter devotion and truth. Stu lets his hot breaths land on Leo’s lips, the bristle of his moustache grazing against Leo’s top lip as he leans back in.

“Me too.. I never wanna know what it’s like to never see you again..”

With that the two both dive back into each others faces, both tongues colliding and teeth clacking and facial hair rubbing sores on either one’s faces. But neither cares. Leo’s hands dragging down over Stu’s torso before reaching his hips. He pulls Stu closer to him and groans into Stu’s mouth as he feels the other man’s bulge press into his.

A shiver runs through Stu’s body as the friction against the other man makes heat pool low in his stomach. Leo pushes off of the door and forces the taller man to take a few steps back.

“Can-.. can we.. can I..”

Leo’s words trail off between kisses as he tries to make sense of the haze of pleasure settling into his mind, something he hasn’t ever had like this before.

“Bed?”

Leo nods against Stu’s lips at his quick question, their feet scuffing towards the cramped hallway that Stu’s room resides in. 

“Bed.”

Despite being the bigger of the two, Stu nods at Leo’s command and lets the other lead, attached at the lips and frankly wherever their hands can reach. Stu’s broad hands glide over Leo’s torso and dip under the hem of his dress pants, while Leo’s roughly calloused ones grab at Stu’s dress shirt and pull it loose from his pants almost instantly. Their hands and lips breaking away for a moment with a small whine of protest from Stu as they both quickly unbutton their shirts.

As soon as Leo undoes his last button and watches Stu do the same he shrugs his shirt off onto the cold laminate and presses his chest to Stu’s, pushing the goalies shirt off of his shoulders as they melt into the kiss. A bit of their previous desperation gone for a brief moment as they relish in the feeling of each other. Silently worshipping a love neither are quite sure about when it comes to the outside world.. but one they both know feels right after looking for so long. 

Leo slowly and gently pushes Stu onto the bed, lying him down on his back without a moments hesitation or resistance. A hand sliding down Stu’s stomach over the muscle usually hidden by a nice shirt or a chest protector. A sight he wasn’t entirely sure of when it was said let alone something he was expecting to get his hands on. His hand slides all the way down and lands on the fly of Stu’s pants. A tense point in the fabric to say the least.

“Can I?.. I don’t wanna push you..”

Stu nods as his head lulls back against his pillow his lips parted with hot, panting breaths. His hands going up to Leo’s hips like they’re his only anchor to reality.

“Gods- please.. Leo I need you.. I need you so bad..”

Stu’s plea almost sends Leo up a wall as he looks down to undo the goalies pants, working in tandem to slide the fabric down his massive muscular thighs. Leo’s mouth waters as he drinks in the sight, only being reminded of his prize as Stu’s hips buck up. Leo’s hands slowly move up to the waist band of Stu’s boxers like they’re something fragile to be handled.

“Are- are you sure?.. Like sure sure? I-I don’t wanna hurt-”

“Leo.. shut up.. gods- fuck! Just-“

Leo’s a bit hesitant to act but pulls Stu’s boxers down, freeing the readied cock that suddenly makes all of Leo’s previous caution go out the window. He rips his own pants and boxers off and tosses them off of the bed before taking Stu’s lips again, the skin to skin contact feeling entirely heavenly. Stu’s hand eventually blindly reaching out and fumbling through the bedside tables drawer for a bottle of lube. 

Once Stu comes up with it, Leo breaks the kiss to nip and suck his way down Stu’s neck and chest. His free hand pouring a good helping of lube on his other hand before reaching down between Stu’s preemptively parted legs.

“Ready baby?”

“Mmm please Leo.. I need you.. split me open, I don’t care who hears us..”

Leo can feel his control wavering by the second, a flood of almost feral instincts taking over his mind as he slides a finger in, relishing in the gasp it pulls out of Stu. Before long he slides a second and third finger in, spreading and curling them inside the goalie to work him perfectly loose all while driving Stu batty with the sensation. Leo smirks up at Stu as he hears the whine leave his chest once his fingers leave his hole, he settles himself over Stu and lines himself up, burying his face in the goalie’s neck as he rolls his hips and pushes in. 

A moan draws out of Stu’s chest as Leo slides into place, his mind already whirring with all sorts of co-mingling thoughts and feelings he’s never had a chance to think about until now. Leo bites down on the slope of his shoulder in time with the first rolling thrust. Pulling a sharp gasp from the man beneath him that very quickly becomes and addictive sound.

“God.. you’re so fucking loud, baby..”

Stu only manages to whine and claw at Leo’s back, his chest rising and falling steadily from panting breaths as his skin starts to slick from both his and Leo’s sweat. Leo’s thrusts only get more and more intense. Leo intentionally slows his pace to the point where Stu’s blunt nails sink into his shoulders, sending a pleasurably pained shiver down his spine before he leans down and growls in Stu’s ear.

“Beg for me.. I’ll give you whatever you want.”

Stu didn’t know he had it in him to be so damn submissive let alone love every second of being underneath the other man, but his pleas slip out of his mouth before he gets a chance to stop them.

“Please Leo, please.. I’ll be so good. I’ll listen, I’ll be quiet, whatever you want… just- just don’t stop.”

Leo just about loses it right then and there as he kisses his way down Stu’s neck, driving him into the head board with a devastating pace. The feeling of Stu’s tip starting to leak against his stomach brings him even closer to the edge. Leo leans down and kisses over Stu’s ear again, whispering a low demand in it.

“Come for me, Stu.. don’t hold back..”

It doesn’t take a moment longer for Stu to see white, hot come covering Leo’s lower stomach before he fills Stu up himself. Leo collapses on top of the goalie as their sweat, breaths, and various other fluids intertwine and mix together.

“You were so good..” Leo pants as his head lies on Stu’s peck, “so good for me, Stu..”

Stu shivers at the praise, rolling them both over as he curls up into Leo’s chest. Settling his head in underneath Leo’s chin. The tension draining from his body as he melts into Leo’s scent.

Leo chuckles softly as he threads his fingers through Stu’s hair, a warm fuzzy feeling washing over him that he isn’t quite how to handle. He pulls away slightly as he looks down at the top of Stu’s head.

“You like that?”

Stu nods before pulling away himself to look up at Leo, cringing a bit as their stomachs stick together.

“I-I uhm… sorry I‘ve never been.. I’ve never been under someone before..”

Leo smiles tenderly as he tucks a few stray strands of hair behind Stu’s ear. Shaking his head before pressing a gentle kiss to the other man’s forehead.

“Don’t you dare apologize.. you were amazing, perfect. Whatever words you can think up. I thought chicks were where it’s at but I don’t think I’ll ever go back..”

Leo’s words soften Stu to reveal a bit of hidden vulnerability. Those perfect, almost teal eyes shimmering with insecurity as he looks to Leo of all people for reassurance.

“You-.. do you really mean that?..”

Leo nods, reluctantly peeling himself away from Stu to walk into the en suite, wetting a towel as he talks.

“Of course I do.. Stu you’re not just the prettiest guy on the roster I mean- I have no doubt you had no trouble with chicks but- you’re-.. god how do I even.. you know my reputation..”

He puzzles for a moment on his words as he walks over to the bed, gently wiping off Stu with the warm dampness of the towel.

“I haven’t ever and I mean ever ever felt the way with another human the way I feel when I look at you.. I-.. I don’t wanna claim or fuck and bail on you I wanna-.. I wanna protect you and hold you right up against my chest so no one can ever look at you without seeing me with you..”

Stu’s eyes well up as he listens to Leo’s spiel, his body sinking into the mattress, Leo finished cleaning the both of them up and tosses the towel over onto the bathroom floor, climbing back in beside Stu and pulling the blankets over them. Stu’s mind whirrs with insecurities and echoing words from lovers and people of the past, but as Leo pulls him into his chest and presses a kiss to the crown of his head. They fade into the distance. Replaced by the soft, whispered sound of:

 “Ich liebe dich”

Chapter Text

The morning slowly peeks into the room and coats the pair in a warm golden light. Stu stirs first, but is in no hurry to get up and move. He nuzzles closer to Leo and places a kiss to the centre of his chest, his hand coming to rest over the others peck as his thumb rubs idly over his skin. 

Leo doesn’t wake right away, but his arm draped over Stu’s torso tightens. Pulling the other closer as he mumbles something Stu can’t quite interpret. Something with ‘mine’ thrown into the mix. Stu gladly scoots impossibly closer, craning his neck slightly to tuck his head under Leo’s chin.

“Yours.. all yours..”

Leo settles again after that, his arm loosening a bit as he starts to drift back off to sleep. Stu tries to follow suit, but his brain is already set on waking up and functioning. The idea of waking Leo up mulls around in his mind, but he’s so peaceful.. so perfect lying there with the sun turning his deep brown hair a shimmering copper. He lies there a while, just breathing in his scent, admiring every pore in his complexion. But the nagging voices in the back of his mind can’t help but make themselves known.

He’s probably just doing this for the fuck. 

But then why would he say all the things he said last night?? Why would he stay and cuddle and clean up and seem so genuine??

Don’t let him see you get upset, he’ll tuck tail and run just like all the others. 

But he knows that I feel safe with him, he’s the only person I feel safe with!

“No one is fucking delusional enough to love you.”

Stu’s fathers words hit him like a physical punch to the gut. He curls closer to Leo without realizing it, his breaths speeding up as his vision goes blurry with hot tears. He doesn’t get much of a chance to ground himself and come back to the real world before he’s yanked into his past.

He rockets up to a sit and looks around, his head pounding in his ears as he takes in his childhood house. His father sat in his designated recliner with his back to Stu. His thumb idly stroking over the rim of a shallow whiskey glass. 

“I told you not to play goalie.”

Stu’s stomach sinks as he hears those words again, the continuation of the dialogue playing on to a T even after all these years.

“I-I know dad but I really like it! It’s fun! And the guys are supportive-“

“They just say that shit because they pity you. You’re never gonna be reliable enough to actually perform like that. Those guys are hard workers. You’re just a freeloading piece of shit who’s sucking my money to play out a dream instead of actually having a real job like your siblings.”

Stu chest gets tighter, almost choking him out of his own breath. He swallows down some of the lump in his throat but it doesn’t stop his voice from cracking.

“You’re such an asshole. Fuck you, dad.”

Stu turns on his heel and goes to run back to his room, but the feeling of that glass shattering on his back still stings like it did the day it happened. But he still ran. Slamming his door shut, locking it, and jamming it with a chair, the top under the door knob and the feet pressed against the bottom of his wooden bed frame. He dove under his bed and curled up at the very top and middle, somewhere he couldn’t be reached if his father broke in. He presses his back to the wall, the glass digging into his skin and making his crying worse, but he still manages to mostly choke it down.

The memories of Stu’s past and himself in the future blur together in some confusing, pain riddled ensemble. His current self manages to find a pair of sweats and stumbles out of his room, forgetting Leo’s there entirely. He leans against the wall to keep him upright, his chest heaving and his vision blurry and narrow. He barely makes his way to the kitchen through the sound of his father banging on the door. Wood cracking and groaning as he tries to break through. He bends down and reaches under the sink, his hand blindly fumbling for a bottle of refuge.

As soon as his father breaks through the door in the memory, the bottle of deep brown liqour is against his lips. It’s burns the whole way down, but it’s the only thing that helps. About a quarter of the bottle goes down before he pulls it away from his mouth, making his way to the dinner table to plop down, letting his head fall forward onto the varnished wood. 

Leo almost immediately feels Stu’s absence from the bed but can’t quite find consciousness until the ‘thunk’ of Stu’s head on the table jolts him awake. He sits up and looks around at the mess of clothes, finding his boxers and dress pants, sliding them back on before quickly stepping out into the hallway, blinking the sleep from his eyes as he scans the small house as quickly as he can for Stu.

“Stu?! Babe!? Are you okay?? Where are-“

Leo’s stomach sinks as he sees Stu’s head down on the table, a bottle of whisky already a quarter gone by 8 in the morning. Was it something he did?? Did he hurt him last night?? Did he push him??

“Stu…” his voice softens as he slowly steps closer, hesitating to reach a hand out before finally making contact with the others forearm. “Are you okay?.. did I hurt you last night?”

The softness and concern in Leo’s voice is a sound he’s not used to hearing from anyone let alone Leo, he can’t help but relax a bit under his touch. He lifts his head and looks up at Leo with bloodshot, glassy eyes, his head looking like it takes a monumental effort to pick up.

“No.. you were incredible… I’m-.. I’m sorry you saw me like this.. I get it if you wanna go..”

“Oh fuck no!! You’re upset! I’m not leaving you like this!!”

Leo pulls up a chair and sits snug to Stu’s side, gently prying the cork of the bottle from his hands and sealing it before wrapping an arm around his shoulder.

“Why do you say that Stu? Why do you think I’d leave you when you need me the most?”

Stu doesn’t even realize what he’s doing as he leans into Leo’s side, setting a hand on Leo’s thigh to keep himself somewhat propped up. 

“I dunno.. everyone else left.. I’m just an over dramatic wreck all the time.. I’m not worth your love.”

Leo had no idea that words could hit him that fucking hard, yet here he is. He shakes his head and pulls Stu into his lap, cradling his head against his chest with one hand and pressing the rest of his torso closer with the other.

“Don’t you fucking dare believe anything that anyone else or any thoughts tells you about what you deserve. I-.. I love you Stu.” His voice breaks mid way through, fear, and devotion swirling together in a weird, warm sensation at his admission. “There is nothing I wouldn’t do to keep you here with me forever.”

Stu melts against Leo, he tucks his nose in the crook of Leo’s neck, trying to hide the tears that form and drip from his eyes. A soft murmur warms the skin on his neck as Stu finds the courage to speak up.

“.. Can-… Can I tell you something?”

“Of course you can.. I’m here to listen..”

The words leave Leo’s lips without a moment to stop them, his arms tightening around Stu completely on instinct. And the goalie seems to react the same, immediately snuggling closer, letting his tears fall down Leo’s shoulder and back as his arms wrap around the others lower back. 

“I-.. I’ve never told anyone else this… but my uhm.. my dad-“ a soft sob cuts him off, Leo’s ever tightening embrace being the only thing that keeps him from shutting down entirely. “H-he would do.. he had a lot of anger prob- problems.. he would try and go after Cece cause she ‘wasn’t his’.. b-but I wouldn’t let him.. so he went after me..”

Leo has no clue what to do but comfort Stu. His hand goes up to gently run through his long hair at a loss for words, to scared of doing something wrong to take a shot in the dark.

“..He would call me a failure all the time be-because I chose goalie instead of ‘real jobs’ like all my other siblings… he would get drunk, and throw shit at me, and beat me just cause..”

Leo shakes his head, keeping his breaths slow for Stu to follow as the tears soaked his skin, he can smell the whiskey from Stu’s breath and hear the beginnings of a slur in his voice as it mixes with his blood.

“Stu.. I’m so sorry, you don’t deserve any of that shit..”

A smile pricks at Stu’s lips for nothing more then a moment before he continues. But it was there.

“.. I’m the sorry one.. I had a panic attack and ran out on you.. I-i uhm.. I had a memory pop up.. one of the worst ones I can’t really get rid of..”

Leo blinks back a few of his own tears, knowing exactly the feeling Stu is talking about.. he has a lot of those himself. Though it was him who caused them, not the other way around.

“He was really drunk one night.. I had come home after a bad game, I was maybe.. 12? 13? It was a bad blowout, 7-1 at my expense. H-he saw it as a chance to try and make me ‘see what he meant’.. he called me all sorts of names and I finally snapped and told him to fuck off. When I turned to run to my room.. he threw his glass at me.. and it broke..”

Leo’s hand slides down from Stu’s head as he talks, not realizing what he was about to find out. His hand pauses just as Stu mentions the throw glass, hitting a small, jagged edged bump. One of many scars peppered on his back from the night.

“I ran like hell to get to my room once I saw him move.. I propped a chair between my bed and the door so I had enough time to duck under my bed.. it hurt so fucking much to press my back into the wall so he couldn’t grab me but I had to.. he would’ve killed me if he had the chance..”

The more the liqour settles in Stu’s system the easier the words come out. The image of his younger self playing in perfect clarity over again. Leo finally speaking up seems to snap him out of a bit of his trance.

“Did your mom ever call the cops?”

“She was way to scared.. he probably would of tried to kill her too if he found out.. we regularly bought doors and frames to replace mine and the bathrooms because he’d break through them so often.. that night I slept on the floor under my bed since it was to heavy for him to move.. well.. when I did eventually sleep..”

Leo presses a gentle kiss to the side of Stu’s head, rubbing his hand up and down the goalies back, though now the scars he had never noticed before seem painfully obvious with every stroke of his hand.

“I-.. I am so sorry Stu.. I will do anything in my power to keep that asshole away from you.”

A weary, tired chuckle leaves Stu’s chest, he shakes his head and pulls away enough to sit up and look Leo dead on. His eyes bloodshot and glossy all in the same. The flesh under his eyes all puffy and shimmering with tear trails, the bags under his eyes suddenly looking all the more dark while his stubble makes the usually invisible wrinkles on his face painfully obvious.

“I’ve done everything I can to get him out of my life save for leaving this city, fuck, province even.. if he comes back around it’s not your job to protect me.. the last thing I wanna do is weigh on you more then I already am..”

Leo just about chokes on a sob as he takes in Stu’s entire demeanour. That’s far from the joking, fun, loving, and spunky goalie he and the rest of the team knows. This is the man who lives in a small house sandwiched in a mediocre neighbourhood, with blank walls, and a crippling fear of everyone else’s opinions.

“Don’t you dare.. I-.. I have no clue if I’m saying the right things o-or what to do because I have never made a person feel safe enough around me to have them open up.. I am honoured that I can give you that.. you won’t ever be a burden on me Stu.. I love you.. that’s what we do for each other.”

Stu’s hand rockets up to his mouth as another sob wracks through him, he buries his face in Leo’s shoulder as the floodgates open up. Tears pouring out now rather then silently dripping out. Leo has no clue where he notion comes from but protective instincts flare in his chest, he holds Stu tight to his torso, running a hand through his hair and the other rubbing his back.

“I’ve got you Stu.. you’re safe.. I have you.. let it all out.. I promise I’m not leaving until you’re ready.”

And that promise rings true. After a solid hour of peppered tid bits from Stu’s past and a seemingly never-ending flow of tears Stu finally comes to the end of his breakdown. His body heavy in Leo’s lap and every ounce of energy sapped from his body. 

Leo readjusts Stu’s dead weight to pick him up bridal style, warranting a tired chuckle from Stu as he rests his head against the forwards peck. 

“Thank you.. thank you so fuckin much Leo..”

 Leo chuckles softly as he packs Stu back to bed with a surprising ease, a softness in his eye that he has to admit feels strange, but it feels right.

He sets Stu down and gets him settled under the sheets, sliding his dress pants off before placing a tender kiss to Stu’s temple.

“Before we have a little nap.. I have one request.”

Stu forces his eyes to stay open, staring up at the other with perfect, sleepy puppy dog eyes.

“From this point forward..” Leo sits on the edge of the bed, tucking a strand of hair behind the goalies ear. “I get to call you my boyfriend.”

Stu smiles up at Leo his heart melting at Leo’s uncharacteristically soft request. 

“Of course. Babe..~”

Leo returns Stu smile, pressing a tender kiss to his lips before crawling over him and wrapping himself around Stu, swaddling him protectively in every sense of the words.