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He’d be sore tomorrow. And the day after. Once the adrenaline wore off and his body realised it could pause for a second now. It was done. Another series over. Another loss. It sat in his stomach, thick and heavy. He’d thought it was tough to lose before, but it was even tougher now he’d experienced victory. The thrill of hoisting that hallowed cup above his head had burrowed its way beneath his skin and refused to budge. He was desperate to experience that again. Wouldn’t be this season though.
He'd left the ice in a haze of exhausted disappointment, then tried not to lose his shit with the reporters in the locker room desperate for the perfect, post-game soundbite. The boys were all tired, all disappointed, all a little bit broken. They’d have plenty of time to dissect every shift, but right now they all just needed to retreat to their own spaces. Sleep in their own beds for more than a night or two in a row.
Still, he made sure to check in with the boys one on one before he left. Landy had been there too, of course, but it was different for him. He had actually been on the ice playing with them. The bonds forged in battle were unbreakable. No matter how tired he was, how pissed, he wanted to make sure the boys were all ok.
The people he’d encountered on the way to the carpark had obviously registered the “don’t speak to me” energy radiating off him in waves as he made his way out, offering nothing more than a sad smile and soft “Night, Nate” as they passed. Thank Christ.
Behind the wheel of his car, he released a breath he felt like he’d been holding forever. His phone buzzed in his hand. There were countless messages already. But he was only interested in one thread. He opened his messaging app and clicked the top thread; the photo of a half-asleep Maggie sent half an hour ago making him smile. He typed quickly, before closing the app and throwing his phone on the seat beside him.
Home soon x
Traffic was busy, like always, but it barely registered. He could drive this route in his sleep if he had to. The drive was silent, the quiet punctured only occasionally by the buzzing of his phone against the leather seat. His parents had called him briefly after the game and he’d promised to check in properly tomorrow after he’d rested. Everyone else could wait too.
Before he knew it, he was pulling up to his gate. He drove slowly into his garage and cut the engine. Grabbing his phone, he got out and made his way through the dimly lit garage into his house. In the years he’d spent in Denver, he’d only grown to love this space more and more. It was especially important to him on nights like tonight; his safe haven where he could leave all the bullshit at the gate.
The house felt warm and cosy, the lights low. He moved as if on autopilot, his feet carrying him through the dark kitchen, down the hallway and into the living room. Sid was rising from the couch just he rounded the corner, and he felt his body relax at the sight of him.
“Hey” he spoke quietly, voice soft.
Nate couldn’t find words, his throat aching with the effort not to cry. Sid knew. Of course he did. He stepped forward and moved his hands around Nate’s neck, his thumbs tenderly caressing his face. Nate slumped forward, like someone had cut his strings, and Sid enfolded him in a hug, his arms closing around him, locking him in place.
“It’s ok, you’re ok” His voice was a sweet melody in Nate’s ear. He could listen to Sid talk for hours. In fact, he had done just that on countless occasions in all manner of situations. They talked about everything and nothing. Nate could tell him anything. He knew they'd talk a lot over the coming weeks. Analysis, strategy, gameplan. Not yet, though.
He dropped his head onto Sid’s shoulder, the soft worn fabric of his hoodie smooth across his forehead. A wave of exhaustion overtook him. He needed sleep. Needed to climb into bed beside Sid, put his head on his chest and pass out.
The sound of soft snoring reached him and he lifted his head to peek over Sid’s shoulder. Maggie lay asleep on the couch, her little body snuggled around her beloved toy moose. It had been the first toy she’d gotten. Sid had spotted it in a gift shop during his trip to Montana during all-star break and insisted on getting it. He had proudly presented it to Nate in their hotel room in Toronto. Maggie had loved it on sight and been ridiculously attached to it ever since, despite the fact it was almost bigger than she was. Nate felt his heart squeeze a little at the sight.
“She’s so cute” He finally spoke, his voice tired.
Sid stepped back and looked at him, then turned to look at the slumbering pooch. “Yeah, she is. She’s been out like a light pretty much all evening”
“That’s good, at least she missed that shitshow of a game” He replied grumpily.
Sid grabbed his face again, his serious brown eyes boring into Nate with his patented faceoff intensity. “Hey, don’t do that. It’s late, you’re exhausted. Did you wanna eat a little before bed?”
Typical Sid, always the caretaker. One of the many reasons Nate was obsessed with him. If he said yes, Sid would sit him on the couch, insisting he relax whilst he prepared him whatever food he wanted. Nate didn’t know what he’d done to deserve him, but he was beyond glad he had him.
“No, I’m not hungry. Thank you though.” He replied.
“Let’s head up to bed then, eh?” Sid said quietly, already turning off the tv. He bent to place a quick kiss on Maggie’s head, before grabbing Nate by the hand and leading him out of the room, flipping off the light as he went.
Their bedroom was softly lit, the dark bedding looked warm and inviting. The longer his eyes lingered, the more tired he became.
“Come on, let’s get this suit off” Sid said, peeling the jacket off his shoulders as he toed his shoes off. Usually when Sid undressed him, his body went straight to a hundred, but not tonight. Didn’t matter though. They had a whole summer ahead to undress, redress then undress however many times they wanted. The one tiny bright spot in his disappointment was the thought of more time, just the two of them enjoying each other.
No doubt Sid had already planned something. He rarely clued Nate in, but he didn’t mind. Sid knew him so well he always chose something amazing.
He undid the buttons of his shirt whilst Sid hung his jacket up, ever the neat freak. His belt was next, followed by his pants and his socks. Sid pulled back the covers and Nate climbed in, eyes closing as his sore, tired body met the soft, freshly washed sheets. He actually moaned a little, catching Sid’s arched brow as he opened his eyes. He laughed a little, which hours ago he felt like he wouldn’t be doing for a long time, and Sid smiled down at him.
“You ok?” He asked, slipping off his sweatpants and sliding in beside him. Nate immediately pressed himself against his side. Sid slid his arm around him, flipped the light off and settled in, pressing a tender kiss to his forehead.
Nate sighed, and snuggled against the warm weight.
“I will be” he replied.