Chapter Text
They’d been married for a couple months now, and the season was starting to look up. Maybe all they had needed was a bit of marital luck all along.
The Sharks had won their first game a week after their secret Vegas wedding and had been on the up ever since. Whilst they still might not be playoff material, they were edging closer and closer every week.
The team had touched down in San Jose yesterday and had a day off today. Mack had already texted him that he was going to be staying in at the Thorntons for their rest day, likely napping knowing him.
Something had been nudging Will's mind for the past week or so. That’s how he ended up in a small boutique jewelry store half an hour from the Marleau’s.
His mom had always talked about how much she loved her wedding ring because it was a symbol of his dad’s love for her. Will had never really thought about what she’d said all that much but obviously something about it had stuck. Internally, he knew he wanted to do something similar for Mack.
They had an entire cabinet at the back of the store filled with wedding rings. Gold, silver, platinum, and something called tungsten? Will was getting dizzy looking at them trying to catalogue all their differences.
Rings were the only thing missing physically from their marriage. He hadn’t talked to Mack about it but something inside of him had been itching him to secure things down, to have some sort of physical reminder that this was all real, that they were actually married.
“Any favourites so far?” the lady running the store asks kindly.
“Uh, maybe this one?” Will quickly scanned the rings in front of him, pointing at a plain silver band. It had a nice thickness to it, not too dainty.
“That’s a nice one, let me get that out for you!” she said enthusiastically, reaching around him to unlock the cabinet.
She then directed him over to the front desk in the store and laid out the ring on the carpeted surface. Will picked the ring up, flipping it around in his hands, not really sure what he was meant to be looking for.
Yup, it was definitely a wedding ring he thought to himself sarcastically.
“With that kind of ring we can actually engrave it in store for you if you want?” the lady said, making Will look up from the ring in his hands.
“It’s only a little bit extra cost wise. The woman’s matching version of the ring is a little bit thinner by the way. Most girls prefer that though” she ends with a smile.
Well, this might be a bit awkward.
“Engraving sounds great actually, uh, could I just get two of the men’s rings though?” Will asks hesitantly.
The lady’s eyes widen a bit, but she catches her bearings quickly and tries to cover her shock up with a smile.
“Yes of course, that’s all fine, sorry for assuming.” she rushes out, whispering the last part of her sentence.
“Let me get you the engraving forms so that you can write down what you want, and then I can ring you up on the till.” embarrassed she turns around to grab a piece of paper and pen to hand to Will.
The form asked stuff like font, size, and placement. One of the last boxes was ‘what would you like engraved?’, with a section for each ring.
He writes the numbers 2 and 71 neatly into their respective boxes and hands the form back to the lady behind the desk.
“They’ll be ready in an hour, just need to wack them into the machine in the back.” the lady says whilst handing Will the card reader.
An hour later, after a long coffee break at a cafe down the street, Will has two ring boxes in a little paper bag.
Will’s never been so nervous driving to Mack’s place before. His fingers were sweating, he didn’t even know they could do that. The drive goes way too quick and before he knows it, he’s sat in his car staring at the Thornton’s front door.
He didn’t want it to be a big thing. Mack wouldn’t either. So, Will sucked in a big breath and shoved his car door open before he could chicken out, making sure to grab the paper bag on his way out
Quickly sending off an ‘i’m here’ text to Mack, he made his way to the front door.
Right as he reached out his finger to ring the doorbell the door swung open to reveal Mack. He was breathing a bit heavier than usual, probably come running after getting Will’s text.
“Hey!” Mack exclaimed happily.
“Why did it take you so long to come over? I was thought I was gonna die of boredom.”
“You were 100% napping.” Will deadpanned, Mack’s slight bedhead was all the confirmation he needed.
“So? That’s never stopped you before.” Mack shot back playfully, his hands on his hips.
Will rolled his eyes and shoved past him in the door. The two of them started wandering down to the basement to go play Chel or Mario Kart like they normally did on a day off. Mack started yapping away behind him about some dream he’d had napping, his arms flailing about as he tried to describe things.
Cute. Wait what? That’s not something someone thinks about their best friend… wait. His husband. God, Will’s still getting used to that.
Ignoring his thoughts for the time being, Will settles down on the basement couch across from Mack. He stretches himself out until his feet landed on Mack's lap, the bag clutched to his chest.
“So…. What's in the mystery bag?” Mack said, raising his eyebrows in interest.
It was now or never thought Will as he handed the bag over to Mack, keeping a neutral expression on his face. So many horrible possible scenarios were floating through Will’s brain as Mack looked down into the bag and reached inside.
What if he hated them? What if Will was reading everything wrong and Mack though of them as one big joke? What if….
Holding one of the ring boxes in his hand, Mack looked up at Will, making eye contact. He’d gone quiet, his face was serious but not in an angry way. It was the face he made when their coach was trying to explain a complex play.
Mack opened the box, a small gasp escaping his lips when he saw the ring. The number 71 nestled on the inside of the band staring up at them both.
Mack grabbed Will’s legs by the undersides of his knees and dragged him until he was practically sat on his lap. Will stayed silent, still frozen from the fact that Mack hadn’t immediately freaked out or anything.
He gently took Will’s left hand and slid the band onto his ring finger, a smile starting to form on his lips. Taking the hint, Will then grabbed the other ring box from the bag and pulled the ring out. Mack held his hand out as Will slid the ring onto his finger, watching the number 2 disappear against his skin.
“So that’s what you were up to today.” Mack said with a gentle laugh, his eyes crinkling in the corners.
“I was wondering why you didn’t come join my napping session” Mack jokingly pouted, shaking his head.
The feeling in Will’s chest disappeared, an unknown weight that had been clinging to him was lifted, letting him breath easily again.
“Might have to be a bit careful with them around the guys though…” Mack trailed off.
“Oh yah, forgot about that.”
“You could wear yours on your necklace maybe?” Mack offered. Will could just imagine it, his and Mack’s wedding ring nestled against his chest with the pendant from his family. All his most important people on one chain.
“Maybe we should get you a chain too then?”
“Nah, I’ll just wear it on a different finger or something. As much as I love the team, they’re not the smartest, so I think that’ll be good enough” That made them both snicker.
Will then scooted back to his side of the couch and grabbed his controller whilst Mack booted up the PS5.
Something in him had finally settled. Everything with Mack was starting to feel real. The marriage may have started on a whim, but looking back, it didn’t happen for no reason. There had always been something between Will and Mack, slowly growing unbeknownst to them.
Thank God they’d gotten smashed in Vegas.
The locker room was hectic. They guys were talking and chatting, getting changed for the game whilst music blasted in the background.
Will’s chain was heavier than usual, a new weight clinking against his pendant. His eyes searched the room nervously while he was shirtless, scrambling to pull his top over his head before anyone saw the ring dangling under his neck.
At that very moment Toff decided to look right at him. This was it thought Will, holding his breath in anticipation, Toff was going to notice something was up. The moment passed, and Toff looked away almost as quickly as he’d looked at him. Only really glancing over at him briefly. He hadn’t noticed the ring.
Looking around the locker room in disbelief he quickly realised that even standing there shirtless for all to see, no one took note of the ring. Making eye contact with Mack they both shook their heads smiling in awe of their teammates lack of awareness for their surroundings.
Mack’s ring was currently on his pointer finger, having been put there as a precaution in case someone noticed it. Realising the obliviousness of their teammates Mack smirked and moved his ring to his ring finger before putting his gloves on. Them stood up and made his way for the rink, leaving Will standing there with his mouth practically hanging open
Will stared after him, heat creeping up his neck.
Oh, he was evil.
Mack didn’t even look back, just adjusted his helmet as he walked, like he hadn’t just rocked Will’s world. Will huffed out a laugh to himself and finished getting dressed, tugging his jersey over his head. The familiar weight of the chain settled against his chest; the ring cool where it pressed to his skin.
Out on the ice, the arena lights were blinding, the crowd slowly trickling in to watch warm-ups. Mack skated past him, giving his shoulder a bump on the way.
“Try not to stare at my gloves the whole game,” Mack muttered under his breath, not even glancing at him as he skated past.
Will shot him a look, and as if sensing it, Mack looked back at him and grinned.
When the puck dropped later that night, the Sharks played like they had something to prove. Will assisted on the first goal, and Mack buried the second deep in the net.
In the final minute, clinging to a one-goal lead, Will found himself shoulder to shoulder with Mack on the bench. The crowd was on its feet. The clock ticked down. Five seconds. Four. Three.
“bzzzzzzzzz!”
The bench erupted. Mack grabbed Will, hauling him into a hug that almost lifted him clean off his skates.
When they finally pulled apart, Mack squeezed his hand. The touch was quick, hidden in the chaos of the win.
Will glanced down at his chest where he knew the ring rested beneath his gear, then back up at his husband standing under the arena lights.
Maybe luck had something to do with them winning tonight.
Or maybe it was the two numbers engraved in silver, 2 and 71, resting on their skin.