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Kasey and Alex were in the bedroom, getting ready for bed after a long, heated game. It was late, two in the morning, and they’d gotten home from the victory party at Dumo’s house about twenty minutes ago. It was Rangers versus Lions and, aside from the competition, it meant that both men had been looking forward to sleeping in the same bed again for weeks, even if it would only last a couple of days.
The Rangers had been fiery, but the Lions had the advantage of playing home. That, together with a hat trick from Sirius and another two points by Finn and Jackson, had determined the victory of the golden-red jerseys.
Nevertheless, Alex had enjoyed both the match and the party. It had been a good game, and they weren’t that deep into the season for it to be a grave loss. It was a pity that Natalie was out of town for a concert, but he’d enjoy the short break he had with Kasey as much as possible. It hadn’t been long since the long summer together at the O’Hara’s Hamptons house, but distance was distance. It felt good to be back in the same room, the domesticity of getting ready for bed together drawing involuntary smiles from both men.
A small hiss escaped Alex’s mouth as he moved his arm to get rid of the hoodie he’d been wearing.
His wrist had been hurting since the match, and he hadn’t given it much thought. But hours had passed, and every time he moved it, a small wave of pain traveled all the way to his elbow. He’d ignored the pointed stares from Kasey during the party -God knew Kasey could turn into a worrywart sometimes. Barely acknowledging his own pain but always noticing the smallest change in people close to him.
But the wrist pain, not strong enough to be unbearable and yet still annoying, was still there.
Kasey turned to look at him from the other side of the bed, where he’d been putting on his pajama pants. His brows immediately furrowed in open concern. “Is it still bothering you?”
Alex shrugged, not wanting to worry him. “Kinda, yeah. But it’s nothing, tomorrow it’ll be good as new.”
Kasey studied him one moment before nodding as he reached his phone on the nightstand. “Alright, I’m calling Loops.”
Alex’s eyes widened as he stood on the bed with his knees. “Kasey-what, Loops? Why? No, come on. What do you expect him to do?”
Kasey didn’t lose a beat. “He always knows what to do. He can help.”
“He’s not my PT- he’s not even yours, in fact.”
“Tomato, tomato, he still has a med degree.”
“Please, I went through worse, and you know it. Our job is to get slammed across the ice every day, in case you forgot-”
“My point exactly.” Kasey didn’t even look up from where he was scrolling down his contacts.
Alex groaned, “Kasey, don’t. There’s no need. It’s late, he’s probably sleeping, let the poor man rest-”
Kasey held up one finger as he placed his phone between his cheek and shoulder, call already sent. Alex threw him a pleading look, because there was absolutely no need to call his teammate, not even PT anymore, at an ungodly hour, for an annoying wrist. But Kasey stared back, an unimpressed gaze that left room for no argument. A few beats of silence passed, then Remus’ confused voice joined them.
“Er. Hello?”
“Loops” Kasey greeted, “Am I bothering you?”
“Uh…I don’t think so? I wasn’t sleeping?”
“Good. Alex’s wrist is hurting”, Kasey said matter-of-factly.
A few beats of silence passed. “Kasey, it’s two in the morning”, Remus said.
“Yep.”
“I’m not his PT- I’m not even yours.”
“He mentioned.”
Another few seconds of silence passed before a small sigh came from the other line. “Fine. Put me on speaker.” Kasey grinned and proceeded. “Hey, Alex.” Remus didn’t sound annoyed, just a bit exasperated.
“Hey, Loops. Sorry about him.”
“No biggie. So, what seems to be the problem?”
“Er, it’s not a big deal, really,” Alex said, but Kasey raised an eyebrow at him in a go on manner. “My wrist just hurts a bit when I move it.”
“Okay. Did you take a bad hit during the game?”
“Huh, guess so? Nothing memorable.”
“Is the wrist swollen or purple?”
Kasey sat in front of Alex with a small bounce and inspected said wrist close to the other one, taking both gently in his hands. “Hmm. Looks a bit swollen to me.”
“Okay. Alex, try to make a slow, full rotation in both ways and stop when it bothers you.”
Alex only completed half a turn before a small hiss escaped his mouth.
“Alright. Now back and forth.”
Alex could feel Kasey’s attentive gaze on him as he tried to move his wrist. He did his best not to let another sound out, but at the smallest movement his brows furrowed. And Kasey’s with his.
“It’s bothering him, Loops,” the goalie immediately said. Alex glared at him, mouthing Dude. But Kasey shrugged, a determined and not sorry at all expression on his face.
“Alright,” Remus said, “Doesn’t sound like anything serious, you probably placed it badly during a hit. No ice or meds necessary. Do you have bandages at home?”
Kasey snorted. “Do we.”
“Great. Grab those and some tape. We just need to stabilize the wrist, so it won’t move too much overnight.”
Kasey jumped off the bed and made a quick jog to the bathroom. An awkward silence fell. Alex cleared his throat.
“Er, Remus, sorry for the call. I know it’s nothing, but Kasey wouldn’t hear it.”
The small laugh made him feel better. “Hey, don’t mention it. I’m glad Bliz trusts me. And it happens more often than you think, with the whole team. So really, don’t worry.”
“Thanks.”
Kasey returned with bandages, tape and scissors a moment later. “Got everything”, he said, placing everything on the bed.
“Good. Now make a few turns of bandages around the wrist. It must be firm but not too tight. It won’t heal faster if you wrap it tighter.” Kasey gently took his hand between his and began circling the wrist with white bandages. He looked at Alex, and then at the phone, waiting for instructions or feedback. Remus must have deduced so, because he added “Alex, if the tips of your fingers feel cold, it’s too tight.”
“Yeah, kinda.”
Kasey nodded and undid the bandages, wrapping them again with careful eyes and delicate hands, patiently. By the concentration of his expression, he could have been a surgeon in front of an operation table. “Done.”
“Alex, feels alright?”
“Yep.”
“Good. Now secure it with some tape and keep it overnight. Tomorrow it should be better.” After a moment of hesitation, Remus added “But, Alex, if tomorrow the pain is still there, you call your PT.”
Kasey nodded. “Great. Thanks Loops. I owe you.”
They heard an amused huff. “Go to sleep, Romeo. Bye, Alex.”
“See you, Loops. Goodnight, and good game again.”
Remus smiled to himself as he placed the phone back on the nightstand. Even two years into his on-ice career, the team would always seek his help for small injuries on and off the ice. They trusted Layla and Lars, of course, but years of confidentiality and support couldn’t just vanish in the air like that. He’d shared tears and laughs with the team before he even put on a pair of skates again. So, from time to time, he got some calls that started with Loops, please help? Thomas with a cold, Chris for his daughter Aveline’s ouchie at the park, or the Cubs when Leo got a deep cut while cooking. And now Kasey. For how stoic he might appear, Remus knew he had a soft spot for his two.
A mass of blankets moved at his side, and a strong arm appeared to circle his waist. “Loup, c’est quoi?”, Sirius mumbled, crackling one eye open.
Remus smiled, passing his fingers through dark curls. “Nothing, baby. Go back to sleep.”
On the other side of the city, Kasey turned the light off after two last kisses on Alex’s check and lips. They’d sent a goodnight text to Natalie, who had immediately replied with a LOADS of goodnight kisses for my boys xx and two hearts.
They shuffled under the blankets, Alex spooning Kasey because winners get to be the little spoon, O’Hara. But Alex didn’t mind it one bit. He brought his arm around Kasey’s waist, and the blonde’s hand found his half-banded one, intertwining their fingers gently and letting a content sigh out.
A few moments of silence passed before Alex snuggled closer. “You worry too much”, he murmured softly.
Kasey lifted a shoulder, not particularly concerned with the accusation. “Well. I get to worry about you. I’m your boyfriend.”
In its simplicity, the words made Alex’s heart swell up. He thought back at how many times had they had to suppress the worry because it would have looked suspicious. Before as teammates, then on different teams. And even now, they rarely got to be there for each other after a game, so massage sore muscles and kiss aching spots better. But that night, in their bed, it was just them. No teams, no game. Two boys in love who got to be close and worry about each other.
Alex grinned against Kasey’s shoulder, hugging him tighter. “Yeah, you are. Love you.”
In the darkness of the bedroom, he could feel Kasey’s smile. The goalie brought Alex’s hand up for a quick kiss, before placing it on his abdomen again.
They could worry, and they could heal. Together.