Chapter Text
December 2008
Alicent
Alicent had dreamt of this day for as long as she could remember, her first day of being a rookie in the PWHL. Her plane had landed in Saskatchewan a few days before and she had almost worn a hole in her hotel room carpet because of her nerves. She couldn’t even begin to believe that this was it, it was real. She remembered boasting and going on and on to her parents about it as a girl, they had taken her to every game and every practice without complaints. She thought they even still had her peewee trophies on shelves lining their entryway. She could’ve texted her father and manager—Otto Hightower— to ask for confirmation but she knew that would only lead to him calling her to ‘ease her nerves.’
She’d come a long way from that girl with a dream. She’d come a long way from the girl from Ottawa. Maybe that’s what gave her the boost of confidence, why she felt a little bolder. Usually so shy and antisocial, she barely had any friends back home. That’s why she had no idea why she opened her mouth when she saw Rhaenyra Targaryen smoking a cigarette right outside the training room.
“Rhaenyra Targaryen? I-I wanted to introduce myself,” Alicent shoved her hands in her pockets before Rhaenyra could pick up on the slight tremble. “I’m not sure you’re supposed to smoke out here.”
She looked at Alicent almost dismissively and that caused Alicent's face to flush. “Okay.”
“You’re an awesome player to watch,” she said, rocking back on her heels and pulling the bag strap tighter to her shoulder.
“Yes.” Was Rhaenyra's short reply. She won’t even meet Alicent's eye.
A pit opening up beneath Alicent's feet and swallowing her whole would be kinder. This girl made her anxious in a way she’s never experienced before. Like the world was slowly tilting off its axis the longer she stood there awkwardly while Rhaenyra enjoyed her smoke. She finally chuckled and Alicent didn’t know if she should be irritated or relieved.
“Anyway, I should go. They’re waiting for me in there.” Alicent backed away slowly, trying to cherish this moment and she’s not entirely sure why. Why were there butterflies in her stomach? Was it something she ate? “But, good luck in the tournament.”
Rhaenyra shook her head and pushed herself off the brick wall. She took a long drag from her cigarette. “You will not be so nice when we beat you.”
“That’s not happening.” Alicent lightly laughed.
“See you in the final.”
Alicent left and she’s not sure why but the entire time she had the craziest sensation to turn around to see if Rhaenyra stayed to watch her walk away or if she went inside.
That's a crazy thought. Rhaenyra is her rival. She would never be interested in her in that way anyway. Maybe everything would be fine.
🏒₊˚⊹♡
Rhaenyra
“It may be cold in Saskatchewan but here at the International Prospect Cup, fans are hoping for something hot on the ice. It’s the Canada-Russia final.” The announcers voice drones from the small speakers on the ice.
“Yes, featuring the two most talked about prospects in the world. Canada’s Alicent Hightower and Russia's Rhaenyra Targaryen.”
“First, you’ve got Ottawa's very own Alicent Hightower. From everything we’ve seen and heard, they say she’s not the most sociable but this is the girl with the highest hockey IQ out there. Incredibly smart, incredibly dedicated to the game.”
“And incredibly fast, Laenor.”
“And that shot, Joff!”
“Then, we’ve got Russia’s Rhaenyra Targaryen. Strong on the puck and a strong skater. Everything we’ve heard, she really gets under the other players skins.”
Rhaenyra continued her warmups with a sly smirk on her lips at that comment.
“Good in her own room but not exactly liked in her opponents.”
“That’s my kind of player.” Joffrey mused.
“Boston’s kind of player too.”
“Rhaenyra! Is there something more important going on?” Coach Corlys called.
The siren buzzed and she’s saved by the bell.
Rhaenyra circled back to her bench in a lap of victory when the announcers voices come rushing back to her on the speakers.
“A heartbreaking loss for a young Canadian team.”
“Seems they’re still searching for their identity.”
“Despite the incredible showing from the teenage phenom Alicent Hightower.”
Rhaenyra sighed, she can’t escape Alicent and she’s not sure she even wanted to. What is it about this girl that has her… she doesn’t know the word for it.
Sure Rhaenyra’s had plenty of fun with both guys and girls back home, she partied and experimented plenty in her youth. That doesn’t explain the new feeling she felt every time she heard Alicent's name or saw her beautiful fucking face on the sponsor posters.
“She just couldn’t get past that elite Russian defense.”
“And more importantly, Rhaenyra Targaryen was getting past theirs.”
Rhaenyra smirked at Alicent on her way past, she loved seeing her squirm. She hoped she would plagued her the way Alicent had. “See you at the draft.”