Chapter Text
Scott watched as the Cup was passed around his team. He was so fucking happy, it was insane. He’d done it. Reached his lifelong goal. Watched as his teammate’s wives, siblings, and families come down to the rink to celebrate with them. Scott looked up at the rafters, and there Kip was, in his usual spot next to Elena, beaming and looking so damn proud of him. Scott hesitated, for as long as he’d tried to deny it, Rozanov was right. He was getting old, and this may very well be his first and last cup. He looked up at Kip again. Fuck it. And waved at him to come down to the rink. Kip’s eyes widened once he realized what Scott was trying to do. Are you sure? He mouths over the roar of the crowd. Scott nods. Elena was right, Kip wasn’t a dirty little secret. He deserved to be free and happy. Plus, his friends are super supportive so that was a positive. As Kip made his way down to the boards, Scott had a moment to think about what he was going to do next. He’d bet all his hockey money that the media was having a field day with this. They were probably commenting stuff like:
“Who’s this mysterious person Hunter is inviting onto the rink?”
“Does anyone know if he has a significant other?”
“Is Hunter dating?”
“Is Scott Hunter gay?”
As Scott helped Kip over the rink, he thought about Hollander and Rozanov from over the years. He thought about Rozanov, who’d confessed to him that he was bi last month, and how he could never love Hollander freely because the public had portrayed them as life-long rivals. He thought about all the other possible queer players in the league, who were too scared to come out because of careless homophobic slurs thrown around in the locker room. Who were scared they might be ending their careers because of telling the world the truth of their sexuality.
“Are you sure about this?” Kip asked as Scott led them to the center of the ice.
“I love you Kip, and I’m done hiding us.” Was all Scott said before he tilted Kip’s head up and kissed him. In front of the audience, who were roaring so loudly but faded into background noise as he felt his boyfriend’s tongue slide against his. In front of the media, who were probably going insane with the commentary right now, but he’d deal with that later. In front of his teammates, who Scott knew would support him no matter what. But most importantly, in front of Rozanov and Hollander and all the other queer players out there. He hoped this act would help motivate them to come out as well, without fear, without slander, and without judgement.
This is really fucking perfect. Scott thinks, as he ended the kiss and raised his and Kip’s intertwined hands in the air, for the whole world to see.