Work Text:
First Round: Nashville Predators
As per usual, EJ took two laps around their half of the ice, did some laps of skating forward down the middle of the ice then switch to backward with Jack on the other side, intercepting the pucks passing their direction. Then took his rest near the blue line to watch the forwards practice their shots.
He’s not feeling anything different than a regular season game during the warm up of Game 3 at the Bridgestone Arena. Maybe it’s because it’s only the first round, maybe it’s because they’re up 2-0 in the series and Saros is still not playing tonight. Or maybe it’s because he knows they’re too good to lose in the first round to the Nashville Predators this year no matter who’s in their net.
He thinks the fans here know that as well, but don’t seem to mind at all. The place is filled with yellow, such a weird color for a hockey team in his opinion, but somehow feels warm and welcoming when the whole place is filled with it.
He looked up and around and realized the building seems to have a pretty low ceiling. Then he caught something on the other side of the ice and he couldn’t stop watching.
“Hey, wake up man, what are you looking at?” EJ doesn’t notice Gabe quietly sliding over until he bumped into him gently.
“Do you think he’ll regret it if we win it this year?” He tilts his jaw towards the corner on the other side of the ice, where all the blonde wives are holding their little Preds on the glass. The cute Duchene kid that EJ thinks looks nothing like his father is having a giggle and ignoring his dad’s fist bump. But the man holding his fist on the glass isn’t quitting, and only put his hand down when the wife held up the boy’s arm to have the kid’s hand touch the glass. And then another bigger man skated right into the kid’s face, crouching down to his eye level. Whatever he did had the kid, the wife as well as Duchene laughing out loud.
“Well, it definitely doesn’t look like it. He seems, happy.” EJ has to agree with that. Duchene looks so different from his memory, with his long hair and full beard. But the full laugh with his teeth showing and head tilted back still looks a bit intimidating and awkward but familiar, even though he can’t really remember when was the last time he saw one of those.
“How though? He left us, and never got past the second round anyway.” But they got all the studs on defense because of him so they definitely won the ugly divorce.
“Neither did us.”
EJ stops watching Johansen hitting Duchene into the board, stilling laughing, and turns sharply to face Gabe. “But we will, this time, after we beat him.”
Gabe smiles at that, shakes his head a little. “Yeah we will. If you don’t go after him and take stupid penalties just because you think he should still be crying over leaving us after five years, instead of being happy with his life now. He’s pretty effective on the power play this season.”
“Then better me than Cale or Devon in the box yeah?” EJ steals a last peak at the other half of the ice before he skates toward the net with Gabe for their scrimmage, but Duchene is not in the corner anymore.
Gabe slashes him on the calf with one hand on the stick. ”Quit it, or I’m telling coach to bench you whenever he’s on the ice.”
“Ok ok, just kidding man. It’s playoffs now, I know my place. Just haven’t seen him in the playoffs for a while you know. His dream was to win with the Avs as well wasn’t it? That stupid draft video of his and all? How do you just, step away from your dream like that and not regret it?” EJ still remembers those weeks last July when he was waiting to see if Joe still has a place for him on the team. He wanted to stay so badly.
“Because most people’s dreams don’t come true no matter how hard they try. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be happy and content living a different life.”
Gabe turns and stops in front of him, one hand holding onto his arm to stop him as well. He looks straight into his eyes with his blue blue eyes. He’s not smiling anymore and EJ can’t believe he still gets a bit nervous when he looks at him like that after all these years. He just doesn’t like it when he can’t tell what’s on Gabe’s mind.
“But you’re still here, you still have a shot at living your dream, so stop worrying about why other people can be happy after they gave up on theirs, and focus on your own ok? We’ll make your dream come true and we’ll be the fucking happiest people ever.”
EJ can’t think of any response to that so he just nods.
But somehow he feels like Gabe was talking about more than winning the Cup when he gave him a little smile and hugged him with both arms wrapped around him and his cheek tucked into his neck.
Second Round: St. Louis Blues
The Blues turned out to be not as hard to play against as they thought, not even with their fear for The Second Round of Stanley Cup Playoffs mounted in the back of their mind no matter who they’re playing against. They finally made it past the second round this time, just to realize that that’s just job half way done, fuck it’s hard to win the Cup.
When EJ sees Ryan O’Reilly sitting at the empty table waving him, Gabe and Nate over, his first thought is that he can’t believe Factor would be the first of them to fight through all that, letting alone getting the Conn Smythe as well. Not that he doesn’t think he’s capable or lack the desire, just that he always seems so peaceful and doesn’t fit what he thinks anyone playing in the playoffs should be like. But what does he know, he’s never been there or done that.
Factor is still all friendly and peaceful, even more so than he remembered, even though he just lost to them and got eliminated from the playoffs after 9 months of hard work. Guess a Cup ring and a trophy make people permanently happy?
Half way through their favorite old time stories that they still tell and laugh at every time they meet up, the live band performing in the restaurant spots them and asks Factor if he would like to come onto the stage and play a song with them. Factor doesn’t seem surprised and just goes up the stage and takes the guitar from the band, as if he gets asked to do something like this frequently. Nate cheers him on with more nicknames than he ever knew, for a moment he thought they were all still so young and playing Call of Duty without a worry.
But then he had his wife onto the stage with him and sang a love song to her which definitely brought some tears to her eyes.
And EJ can see he’s living a happier life now, after all those stressful years, hopeless seasons, and long desperate phone calls with Nate and Tyson that he overheard once or twice over the years.
Dame he may have some tears in his own eyes when he stands up and applauses with the crowd.
“How do you pick yourself up after the shit he went through?” EJ asks Gabe quietly after five songs of broken singing and taking gulps to skip the high notes, when Nate leaves with Factor to the bar to buy the restaurant a round, on Nate of course.
“Huh? You mean Factor?” Gabe’s face is a bit flushed from the drinking and singing, and he’s definitely not sober anymore.
“Of course I mean him.” EJ scoffs at Gabe’s face and can’t stop himself from pinching his cheek a little bit.
“Then it’s 100% country music! Did you hear him sing just now? What’s he even doing playing hockey with that face and that voice! And he’s even better at hockey, shit doesn’t make any sense.” Gabe throws his hands up in the air and slumps back into his seat.
EJ can’t help but laugh and sits down to put one arm around Gabe’s shoulder to shake him. “Look who’s talking, what are you doing playing hockey with all your Swedish hotness huh?”
“Right? We’ll put my hotness to other uses after we’re done in Colorado yeah? Maybe you can show me around your horse races, let people know why all your good looking horses should be named after me.” Gabe says quietly, leaning into his arm and resting his cheek on his shoulder.
EJ laughs so hard that he puts Gabe into a headlock, so he kisses the top of his head to apologize.
“Oh my god how are you still bitching about that! You know what, after we win the Cup, I’m just gonna retire, buy Landeskog back and take care of him for the rest of his life ok? I’ll just have him for company during the season when I can’t be around you anymore, and you can come and pat yourself on the back in the summer, how about that?” EJ pictures his farm and his horse as he brushes Gabe’s hair, it does sound like a nice retirement plan.
“Stop saying you’re gonna retire after the Cup. We’re winning it in a month and you’re not retiring this summer.” Gabe mumbles and slowly closes his eyes.
“Yeah, we better win it this year, cos I honestly don’t know how much longer I can hang on here with you guys. Country music doesn’t seem to be my magic savior after all.” EJ continues to pet Gabe’s hair silently with him asleep on his shoulder. And adds another kiss to the top of his head after a while.
Third Round: Edmonton Oilers
EJ was probably the most nervous going into the series against the Edmonton Oilers. He believes they can win against good teams, but people like Conner McDavid sometimes doesn’t require one to win games. He has to say he’s a bit relived that Draisaitl was playing through some serious injuries, but he also knows by now that’s dumb as shit, you become a burden to the team in a playoff series inevitably even if you’re Leon Draisaitl. So he told him to take care of himself in the summer when Draisaitl just shook his hand without saying anything, not putting much weight on his hurt leg.
Then he sees Tyson, still not growing much facial hair to be a proper playoff hobo even though he had more time to grow it this year.
He kept in touch him enough to sometimes forget that he plays for another team now and that they’ll be on the opposite side of a handshake line if it comes to it. Like right now.
“You should be on our side of the line.” He didn’t even start with the normal good game stuff, they both know their places on a team and how good they play is not the reason why they’re on the roster.
“Yeah yeah I know, why do you sound like Nate all of a sudden. You’re going to the Cup final, be happy you fool. Come here.” They both go in for a full body hug just like every time they see each other. Tyson is small enough that he needs to bend forward a little bit and pretty much covers him up entirely. It feels good to have him back for even just a few seconds.
“Go win it for me eh?” Tyson pats him on the chest.
“Oh I’m not fighting Nate on that duty.” EJ leaned down to hug him a bit again before going on with his handshakes.
They all knew Tyson is probably gonna be gone after seeing how ridiculous Makar is. But they still felt it hard when everything was said and done, especially Nate, who spent the whole summer that year telling everyone that he wants to play with Tys for the rest of his career, as if him saying that enough will make it happen. EJ can still remember the frown on Nate’s face when they saw Tys warming up on the other side of the ice and had to skate to the middle to greet him for the first time. Not the kind of frown he wore when they were dead last in the league. But the frown when they lost to Minnesota in the first round his first year, the kind of frown that said he couldn’t believe how something so bright and hopeful turned out to be so brief and bitter in the end.
But fortunately time heals, now Nate greets Tyson with his old goofy smile every time (He just still hangs onto Tyson and claims he should come back to Colorado when he gets drunk).
They find Tyson outside the arena waiting in the parking lot after they’re done with the confusing western conference champion celebration and pictures, Nate touching the trophy confidently beside him and Gabe. Nate goes towards Tyson, turns back to look at him and Gabe, nods once and walks away with his arm on Tyson’s back.
“Man I’m so glad my contract is too big to be moved anywhere so I don’t need to run away with you after games.” EJ says with a chuckle, shaking his head.
“I would though.” Gabe had his mouth open for like a second before he sighs and finally answers.
“Huh?” EJ is a bit confused and stops to look at Gabe.
“Wait after the game to run away with you every time we play each other, if we ever end up playing for different teams.” Gabe walks on and doesn’t look at EJ.
“No shit you better. And you’re paying for all the dinners and drinks, I’m not paying when I got kicked out of Colorado.” EJ punches Gabe on the arm from behind because he’s still not looking at him when they’re having a conversation.
“Ouch.” That finally got Gabe to look at him with a little frown.
“You okay?” EJ matches his frown automatically as soon as he sees his face.
“Yeah, I’m fine, just tired. We just swept Connor McDavid’s team and are going to the Cup final, what can be wrong?” Gabe says that as if to assure himself, but still frowning.
Then he sighs again and pulls EJ into a full body hug. EJ’s not sure what exactly led to this, but he goes with it pretty much on auto pilot. Gabe fits well in his arms, not much shorter than him so he can stand on his full height. His hair smells like shampoo and fresh wetness. His body broad and solid and warm, makes people believe that he’ll always be there for them just by giving them a hug like this. So he closes his eyes, holds on to Gabe a bit tighter and starts to swing them around in a circle. They made it this far, everything’s looking great, they’re doing it this time for sure. Him and Gabe, and Nate and Mikko and JT and all the boys.
“You know I love you no matter what right?” Gabe asks right into his ear, so he hears it loud and clear even though it’s barely above a whisper.
“Of course you do. I’ll always be your favorite.” EJ smiles into Gabe’s hair and pecks the side of his head. “And I love you too man.”
They stand there in their hug until someone shout from the bus for them to get moving.
Fourth Round: Tampa Bay Lightning
EJ thought for sure they are winning it, today, at home, with Ball arena full and people singing all the small things loudly. But the Tampa Bay Lightning didn’t win two Cups in a row for no reason, and they learnt it the hard way tonight. He didn’t see the GWG go in from the bench, but he somehow knew of course Ondrej Palat put it behind the net, of fucking course.
He jumps onto the ice and salutes the fans even though they just disappointed them badly. Guys start to file off the ice quickly afterwards, him and Gabe take their position and stand next to the door to send them off. Patting them on the back, giving them small fist bumps, doing their regular handshakes, telling them good game, it’s okay, they’ll win it next game. All the things good leaders should do after a tough loss, even though none of those things makes a loss like this any easier at all.
He can’t help but look across the ice. And funny enough, there stands Stamkos and Hedman, in the same position as him and Gabe, patting their boys on the back as they leave the ice. It’s almost an exact mirror image that you can’t even tell one of them won the game tonight.
He keeps watching, so he sees it clearly when Hedman puts one arm around Stamkos to guide him through the door after their last player left, and Stamkos reaches back to grab the other’s hand without looking as he steps off the ice then tugs him closer. They stand there pressed together, Hedman looming over the smaller man, holding his hand and leaning forward to listen to him talk. Then he nods, finally laughs a little bit and kisses him on his head with his eyes closed for a long second.
“That’s fucking sweet isn’t it.” Gabe suddenly speaks up next to him. Of course they’re both watching the same thing, that’s his boy.
“I know right? They’re ruthless on the ice but man that shit was domestic. If only we drafted Cale five years earlier, you’d have had your own Hedman instead of me along the way. You’d get your little kiss on the head and probably the Cup as well tonight.” EJ chuckles as he turns to leave the ice himself.
“What makes you think I want a Hedman?” Gabe knocks on his helmet from behind, not hard or anything, just to let him know he’s definitely not happy with what he just said even though he was mostly just joking.
“Who doesn’t?” EJ takes his helmet off and shrugs, because come on, who doesn’t. He’s already won the Norris, Conn Smythe, and two fucking Stanley Cups, one of the best D man in the league, actually good at defense but can also make play, always keeps his cool, polite and gentle, doesn’t talk too much but leads by example, great help to his captain (in more than one way it seems like), nothing more you can ask for from a player.
“Alright fine, you’re right he’s a great player. But I wouldn’t want anybody over you. I’m glad it’s always been you by my side.” Gabe wraps one arm around his should to pull him to his side and shakes him a little.
“I know, I know, I was just kidding earlier. Just couldn’t imagine being all soft and sweet with you or some shit.” EJ wraps his arm around Gabe back and holds his hand up for their usual handshake.
Gabe goes with it and laughs a little for the first time since that Palat goal went in. “Yeah I wouldn’t dream of that from you. You terrible obnoxious loud Americans with zero romantic thought in all your heads combined.”
“Hey, that’s not nice! You wouldn’t want that anyway!” EJ protests even though he’s totally guilty.
“No, I don’t want that. And I don’t want to watch them being all lovey-dovey again. We’ll make sure of that next game ok? Then I’ll hand you the cup like a true European gentleman.” Gabe stops in front of the door of the locker room and gives him one of his fierce stares.
“You don’t say.” EJ nods, and follows Gabe into the room.
Bonus Round: The Stanley Cup
EJ’s lying in the bed but knows that he’s getting zero sleep today. His skin hasn’t stopped buzzing, his head is swimming and he’s still hearing all the loud music even though it’s dead quiet in his hotel room.
He finds himself enjoying finally being alone. Sure he loves having all his boys around, but only now is he finally thinking: Hey, I did it. I won, got to raise the Cup above my head and take my lap with it. Gabe actually handed it to me, just like he’s been saying for years, his sweaty face so gross but still the most beautiful thing in the whole world. He closes his eyes, searches his memory for that scene again, not realizing he’s having his hands up in the air and the stupid smile on his face. He finished his lap, handed it to Andrew, and skated to smash Gabe into a hug with all his weight. Gabe laughed and screamed a bit, but calmed down, held his head in his hands, smiled at him, tilted his head up and eyes searched up and down his face. He thought Gabe was going in for a kiss, like, a proper kiss. But then Nate jumped onto him from behind and tackled him down to the ice.
He did try his best to grab Gabe during all the chaos, but was never able to find that intimate moment again. So he settled on kissing Gabe on the cheek with the Cup above them and made sure someone took a picture of that.
Then his memory is interrupted by something pounding on his door, it’s so loud that there’s no way the person outside is knocking with their hands. He groans and considers pretending he didn’t hear it, it’s probably some drunk ass bumping into his door anyway. But the knock continuous, this time actually a normal three taping on the door. So he groans again but gets up to drop some not very friendly words in whoever’s face.
But it turns out to be Gabe, hugging the Cup in front of him, and nothing else on him at all.
EJ lets his mouth hang open and unconsciously moves his sight downward, but the Cup is in the way. So he quickly looks up and realizes Gabe looks way too serious considering the amount of alcohol he saw him take last night.
“Uh, hi Gabe, what, are you doing here?” He waves his arm down and up to indicate the nudity he’s omitting.
“Living my life, since it seems like you’re too dumb to ever understand how to do that.”
Gabe steps into the room, goes to lay the Cup down on the couch, walks back to him still really naked and now without anything to cover anything, and stops right in front of him in a quick succession.
They stare at each other, EJ trying to keep his eyes above Gabe’s neck but can’t stop peaking down. Then, Gabe grabs his head in his hands again, smiles, tilts his head, searches up and down his face and asks quietly, ”Should we finish this?”
EJ sure as hell is not that dumb to miss what Gabe’s saying this time.