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nico has been ready for twenty minutes.
at least, he should be. he’s fully dressed, shoes on, hair styled, cologne lightly sprayed the way jack once said he liked. but he’s standing in front of the mirror again, straightening the lapels of his suit jacket like they aren’t already perfect.
his reflection looks nervous. that part he can’t fix.
he smooths his hands down the front of the jacket. then he lifts his tie and pulls at the knot, loosening it just enough to redo it. it’s the third time he’s tried. his fingers keep fumbling, slipping, shaking.
“come on,” he mutters under his breath. “you know how to do this.”
it’s ridiculous. he’s been on dates before. he’s been to important dinners, team events, media galas. he leads an nhl team. nothing should make him nervous.
but this is jack.
their first real date. not a team thing, not a “we’re hungry, let’s get food,” not a “let’s hang out after practice.” this one has intention behind it. this one matters.
nico finishes the knot and stares at it. straight enough. he leans closer to the mirror, checking if the collar sits right. then he steps back. then closer again. he sighs.
there’s a tight feeling in his chest, warm and anxious and hopeful at the same time. he glances toward the clock.
jack will be here any minute.
he adjusts his tie one more time, just because he can’t stop himself. he checks his hair again too, moving a strand, then moving it back. he steps away, takes two steps toward the living room, pauses, and turns back to the mirror again.
he looks the same as he did ten seconds ago. somehow that doesn’t reassure him.
the doorbell rings.
nico’s heart jumps so violently he almost laughs. he takes a slow breath, but his pulse is still racing as he walks to the door. he wipes his palms on his pants, why are they sweating? and opens it.
jack is standing there with flowers.
small bouquet, wrapped neatly, white and red mixed together. jack is holding them a little awkwardly, like he practiced but wasn’t sure if it was too much. he smiles when he sees nico, that open, bright smile that always makes something flutter in his chest.
“hey,” jack says. “uh… these are for you.”
nico stares for a second longer than he should. jack is wearing a dark suit, the tie slightly crooked, and his hair is styled just enough to look good while still looking like jack. he looks handsome. stupidly handsome.
nico feels his face warm. “you brought flowers.”
“yeah,” jack says, rubbing the back of his neck. “i didn’t really know what kind you liked. so i went with colors that reminded me of you. which sounds cheesy now that i’m saying it out loud.”
nico shakes his head quickly. “no, it’s… it’s really nice.”
jack smiles again, softer this time. “you look incredible, by the way.”
nico feels his ears heat up. “thank you. you look…”
he trails off, eyes drifting over jack before he can stop himself. jack notices. jack definitely notices, because his grin grows a little smug.
“you look really good,” nico finishes quietly.
jack’s voice drops a little. “good enough to take you out tonight?”
nico’s throat goes tight. “yeah.”
jack offers him his arm like he’s in some old romantic movie. “ready, captain?”
“don’t call me that,” nico says automatically, even though he’s smiling as he takes jack’s arm.
“okay,” jack says. “ready, nico?”
nico nods. “yeah.”
⸻
the restaurant jack picked is warm and low-lit, not too fancy but still special. there’s soft music playing, quiet conversation around them. the waiter brings menus, and jack watches nico instead of opening his.
“are you nervous?” jack asks gently.
nico startles. “no. i mean— maybe. a little.”
jack leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. “you don’t have to be.”
“i know,” nico says, fiddling with the corner of his napkin. “it’s just… this is different.”
“different good?” jack asks.
nico lifts his eyes. “yeah. different good.”
jack’s smile softens. he opens his menu but keeps glancing up like he can’t help it. nico notices. he tries not to stare back too much, but jack looks unfairly good in a suit, and nico’s heart keeps doing these strange, fluttery things every time jack compliments him with just his eyes.
when the waiter leaves with their orders, jack leans back in his chair and says, “so. how long did it take you to get ready?”
nico stiffens. “what do you mean?”
jack grins. “you look perfect. i’m guessing it wasn’t five minutes.”
nico looks down at his hands. “i might have… checked the mirror a few times.”
“a few?” jack laughs. “not gonna lie, i did too.”
“you did?” nico asks.
“yeah,” jack says, shrugging. “i wanted to look good for you.”
there it is again, that warm blooming feeling in nico’s chest. he can’t hide it. jack sees it and smiles like he just won something.
“nico,” jack says quietly. “you can relax. it’s just me.”
“that’s kind of the problem,” nico mutters.
jack tilts his head. “is it?”
nico takes a breath. “you make me nervous. in a good way. i just… don’t want to mess anything up.”
jack reaches across the table and taps his fingers against nico’s hand. “you couldn’t mess this up if you tried.”
nico’s heart is doing somersaults now. he doesn’t say anything, because he’s not sure his voice will work.
jack smiles at him, softer than before. “i asked you out because i want to be here with you. not because i expect some perfect version of you.”
nico swallows. “i want to be here too.”
jack’s smile grows. “good.”
⸻
dinner is easy once the tension melts. jack tells a story about luke almost burning down his kitchen trying to cook pasta. nico laughs harder than he has in weeks. when nico talks about growing up in switzerland, jack listens so closely it makes nico’s cheeks warm.
every time their hands brush, nico feels it all the way up his arm.
when the check comes, jack grabs it immediately.
“jack,” nico says, frowning. “you don’t have to—”
“first date,” jack says. “let me.”
nico hesitates. “okay.”
jack grins. “i’ll let you get the next one.”
the next one. nico tries not to let how much he likes those words show on his face.
⸻
outside, the air is cold, crisp, stars just barely visible above the city lights. jack turns to nico, hands in his pockets, rocking slightly on his feet like he’s nervous too.
“can i walk you home?” jack asks.
nico nods. “yeah. i’d like that.”
they walk close together, shoulders brushing sometimes. nico’s pulse picks up every time. jack’s fingers graze his once, twice, like he’s thinking about holding his hand but hasn’t worked up the courage.
by the time they reach nico’s building, nico’s heart is pounding again.
jack stops near the door. he shifts his weight, then looks at nico with that soft, warm expression nico is starting to get addicted to.
“i had a really good time,” jack says quietly.
“me too,” nico replies, voice just as soft.
jack bites his lip, like he’s debating something. “can i…?”
he doesn’t finish the sentence. he just steps a little closer.
nico feels his breath hitch. “yeah. you can.”
jack lifts a hand slowly, giving nico time to pull away. nico doesn’t. jack’s fingers touch nico’s jaw, gentle, warm. then jack leans in and kisses him.
it’s soft. careful. warm enough to melt all of nico’s nervousness in an instant.
nico kisses back, shy at first, then deeper when jack’s other hand slides to his waist. jack pulls away just slightly, forehead resting against nico’s.
“that okay?” jack whispers, breath warm.
nico nods, unable to speak.
jack smiles and presses another small kiss to the corner of his mouth.
“goodnight, nico,” he murmurs.
nico exhales shakily. “goodnight, jack.”
jack steps back slowly, grinning like he can’t help it. “next date soon?”
nico nods again, cheeks warm. “yeah. soon.”
jack waves as he walks away, turning back once more just to look at him.
nico stands there for a moment, hand touching his lips, heart full.
maybe mirrors can’t fix nerves.
but jack’s kiss makes everything feel easy.