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Dylan saw Jake and Hofer together constantly. They were best friends, roomates, boyfriends. As much as Dylan wished he could insert himself into it, he knew he couldn’t. So he watched from the sidelines as they cuddled on flights and snuck kisses on the bench. It was rough some days. Dylan would dream about spooning Jake as Joel pet his hair and then he would wake up cold and alone in bed with no one to run to.
Joel had started acting off about a day or two before shit hit the fan. He was snapping at everyong and very protective over his gear. Dylan tried to be helpful and brought him snacks the day after he’d gotten growled at for scoring on the goalie.
“Joel? Buddy? I brought you some food.” He said, approaching the goalie cautiously. He was sitting in his stall, gear on hours before practice started and he was staring at nothing. No one else was in the locker room except Jake who was taping even more sticks. Joel grumbled from behind his mask. Dylan stuck the bag of peanuts out but Joel didn’t seem to notice or care.
Joel was staring at him. Almost into him. And before he knew it, Dylan was on the floor with his goalie purring on top of him. Since when did Hofer purr?
“Uhh…Dylan? Is Joel…?” Jake’s voice was hesitant but comforting.
“On top of me? Yes. Purring? Also yes. Cognizant? Probably not.” Dylan tried to push Joel off him but he just clung harder.
“Dammit. Even when I’m early I’m still not here in time.” Binner’s voice cut through the awkward silence. Maybe he would know what was happening. Goalie instincts or whatever.
“Binner! Do you have any idea why Hof’s acting like a cat?” Jake seemed desperate and Dylan was thankful he was there because there was absolutely not able to speak much with all of Joel and his gear on top of him.
“Kid’s nesting. And it looks like he’s picked Holly as his partner.” Binner replied simply.
“Nesting? But he’s off schedual. And he always nests with me.” Jake seemed to be pestering Binner for more information.
“You sound like Colt when Binny nested with me for the first time.” Schenner cut in, laughing. “Jake. He’s a goalie. Goalies are weird. Sometimes they do things completely out of the norm they follow normally. Joel’s probably just dealing with trade and contract stress and locked onto the first person to offer him something.” Jake sighed in relief, probably nodding.
“Hey, I hate to interrupt but I’m kinda dealing with suffocation via cat goalie right now and I’d appreciate some assistance.” Dylan managed to squeak out. Binner and Schenn picked Joel up and carried him to the nesting room while Jake helped Dylan up. “Thanks, Neighbs. Sorry about stealing your boy.”
“It’s fine. I’m sure it wasn’t a consious choice. Go deal with him. He’s probably biting Schenner right now because he’s not you.” Jake joked.
Dylan chuckled as he headed to the nesting room where he found Binner and Schenn standing outside the door with nary a Hofy in sight. Schenn gestured him in with his head while holding his forearm. So he did get bit.
Joel was curled up in the corner like a scared cat. Shaking and whimpering, still wearing all his gear. Dylan approached him slowly, holding his hand out.
“Joel. It’s just me, buddy. Promise.” Dylan spoke quietly, hoping that it would help. He immediately felt Joel jump back onto him. “Hi. Can you get off, bud? I’m not goin’ anywhere I promise.”
He managed to coax Joel off and out of his pads and into the bed in the nesting room where he was instantly surrounded by blankets and Joel. He cuddled his goalie back happily. If he wasn’t able to date Joel he was more than happy to do this for a few days. He kissed Joel’s forehead softly.
He remembered talking to McDavid about nesting when he was a rookie. He remembered hearing that goalie’s didn’t remember their nesting periods for the most part. So maybe he could open up to Hof about his feelings without worrying about consequences.
A few hours into Joel’s nest, Dylan was sitting with him in his lap as he held him carefully. He kissed the goalie’s forehead.
“Y’know, I’ve wanted to cuddle you like this for ages. You’re so cute and I’m honestly so in love with you. Wanted to cuddle you the way Jakey does. It’s unfair. I want a cutie like you wrapped around my finger. Jake’s so lucky and he doesn’t even realize.”
Joel kissed him. Dylan blinked in surprise before kissing back. His hand found its way into the goalie’s hair as he pulled him in. He pulled back to catch his breath.
“Fuck you’re beautiful.” Dylan whispered softly as he dove into another kiss.
***
Jake sat in his stall sulking after practice when he suddenly felt the precence of none other than Colton Parayko.
“Binny said you’re dealing with goalie withdrawl?” He asked carefully.
“It’s not that. It’s just—” Jake sighed. “Joel ALWAYS nests with me and now he’s nesting with Holly?! They’ve talked like twice! I hang out with Hof all the time! I’ve been with him longer! It’s not fair! I should be in there with him and instead stupid Dylan had to offer him fucking peanuts before practice and now they’re in there cuddling and kissing and doing whatever the hell else Joel wants!” Colton sighed and put his hand on Jake’s knee.
“I remember those feelings. I was in juniors with Jordan y’know. He always nested with me. We hung out all the time and then one day, Brayden decided to share his sandwich with him right before a nest and the next thing I knew, he was gone and nesting with Brayden. I was so angry and jealous I nearly punched someone.” Colton confessed. Punch someone? That didn’t sound like Colt. The man who was most comparable to an oversized teddy bear, got angry and wanted to punch someone. Jake’s confusion must have shown on his face because Colton started to explain.
“I was mad. I felt like I had some kind of claim over Jordan because I’d nested with him so much before. I thought I was mad at Brayden but I was just mad I couldn’t cuddle Jordan for a while. I realized I was in love with Jordan that day.”
“In love? But Schenner and Bin are—?”
“Yeah. When they came out of that room they were dating. I didn’t know when I told Jordan. He made Brayden and I sit down until we ended up dating each other as well.”
“Well that’s great and all but I already know I love Joel. He’s my boyfriend. AND he’s loyal. He wouldn’t start dating someone because they nested together.”
“Sometimes nesting happens because the goalie’s body won’t let them deny feelings anymore. I’m not saying you have to, but I am asking you to think about your feelings for Holly. It might save you a 4 hour long conversation.”
Jake left that conversation thinking.
***
After Joel was done nesting, him and Dylan were inseperable for a good few minutes in the nesting room while they talked. Jake happened to be in the building practicing his slapshot. After firing another, he felt a pair of arms around his waist. He turned, expecting to see his beautiful blond boyfriend and instead found a different tall blond boy.
“Dylan? Is Joel done nesting? I need to talk to him.”
“Actually Jake, I need to talk to you first.” Dylan pinned Jake against the wall so they could talk. “I kissed Joel. I know you two are dating and I totally respect your relationship but honestly I’ve had feelings for both of you for months now.”
“I actually had to talk to Joel about that. Colton talked to me a few days ago about the whole situation and I think I’m in love with you.”
“That makes things easier.” Dylan sighed in relief. “Should we tell Joel? He’s kinda having a breakdown over picking one of us.”
“Shit lets go.” Jake tried to pull away but Dylan managed to sneak a kiss onto Jake’s cheek before they rushed to go find their goalie.
Joel was sitting in the hallway outside the locker room, hyperventalating. He cheated on Jake. He was a disgrace. Jake was going to hate him and he would tear the team apart if he started dating Dylan. His thoughts were interrupted by both boys in question running up to him and sitting next to him.
“Joel, baby. Shhh. It’s okay. I know everything. Dylan told me.” Jake attempted to calm him down but that just worried Joel more. He was gonna get broken up with. It was coming any minute. Dylan smacked Joel.
“That was the least helpful thing you could’ve said, idiot. Joel, hey, look at me. It’s gonna be okay. Jakey’s not mad at you, I’m not mad at you. In fact, Jakey has something to tell you that won’t damage your incredibly fragile post nest psyche” The last part of that was definately directed at Jake.
“Joel, baby. Hey. Dylan and I actually have feelings for each other. You don’t have to worry about picking anyone. You can have us both. Assuming you’re okay with Dylan and me kissing.” Jake kissed his boyfriend softly. “I love you so much, Joel.”
Joel looked up at his boyfriends and smiled. He nodded. “I love you both.” Dylan joined the hug, kissing Joel’s temple.
***
Brayden watched as Dylan joined the cuddled and date nights easily. He watched Dylan and Jake sneak kisses during cellys and back to their boy once they were back on the bench.
“You did good, Colt.” He murmmered to his boyfriend late one night before kissing him.
“Just needed a push. Like you and me. Without it, we wouldn’t have our beautiful twig.”
“I can hear you two y’know.” Jordan piped up from the bottom of the cuddle pile. Colton gave his goalie plenty of makeup kisses. As did Brayden. “Love you both too.”