Chapter Text
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Chapter One
The pads felt extra heavy as Nick settled them in place. He’d gotten to the rink earlier than usual, wanting some time to set himself up on his own, let his thoughts process before others got there and gave him other opinions.
It was strange to think the last time he was here, putting on this gear he’d been blissfully unaware of the world around him.
But then he’d forgotten a glove and back-tracked to get it and seen something impossible. A beautiful blonde who caught his eye, who smiled back at him, who suddenly transformed into a skeletal something. Her cheeky grin had disappeared into a shocked and worried face and she’d hurried away from him whilst he’d stood there and gaped.
He’d stood there in shock until he heard the whistle and then he’d hurried to the ice. He’d convinced himself he was going insane, that he was exhausted and having some kind of mental breakdown at the end of a tough season. But then he’d seen more strange things on the ice; animal eyes through opposing players helmets, growls from their goalie. And they’d seemed to suddenly hate him.
At the end of the second period when his teammates were shouting at him for being off his game and he thought he was going to have to withdraw himself from the actual game, his fellow line forward Monroe had pulled him aside and asked him what the hell was going on. And as Monroe’s eyes were red as he said it Nick had asked it back exactly. So in five minutes he’d been given a crash course in Grimm and Wesen and his world had exploded. Somehow he’d gotten through that last game and redeemed himself in front of his fellow players and coach.
Then he’d spent the off-season with Monroe, learning everything about his new world.
Now he was back on the ice and about to face off, knowing he’d be playing against blutbads and hundjagers, lowen and klaustreich, and they’d be facing a Grimm.
Monroe had explained how lots of Wesen played contact sports as it gave them a chance to let off their physical aggression. He’d now be upping that as Wesen were not going to like facing off against a Grimm. Somehow he’d managed not to be seen himself in that last match and so only Monroe had known. But now he was facing a whole season where it was going to be obvious and word would spread as well.
Wesen quite liked to gossip, according to Monroe.
Nick wasn’t sure where he’d be without his friend. They’d been teammates for two years now, paired with Wu in their forward line, with Hank and Franco as their defencemen, but this last off-season they’d become friends. They’d trained together and supported each other. A friendship between a Grimm and a Wesen was unheard of but they were going with it and Nick was proud and grateful for and of it.
Now a new season beckoned and he was at a crossroads. He wanted to keep playing. He loved hockey. Always had and always will. His Grimm abilities seemed to be making him faster and stronger on the ice as well. He’d developed better plays with his line, Monroe and Wu, as well as Hank and Franco. Before his developing friendship with Monroe, Hank was his best friend on and off the ice and whilst those first few weeks had been a bit tense, since then Nick had bridged the small slightly awkward gaps between his Wesen and unknowing Kehrseite teammates and they were all playing better because of it.
But that had been off-season training and them hanging out together, now they were about to train and play together for real stakes. And Nick knew what was really going on. He knew that Monroe was a Blutbad, like their goalie Hap. Their physio Rosalee was a Fuchsbaus and equipment managed Bud was an Eisbiber. That their coach Meisner was a Kehrseite-Schlich-Kennen, a human who knew the truth and Alexander, their team manager was a pflichttreue. And then there was their team owner, the man who had personally recruited Nick to play for the Portland Power, Sean Renard, a zauerbiest.
Oh and that beautiful blonde? The first wesen he’d ever seen? Adalind Schade, the team lawyer, Renard’s ex and a hexenbiest.
Somehow he had to make this all work or he had to walk away from the game he loved, the career he’d worked so hard for and the team who’d become his family.
The ice was smooth under his skates as he headed onto the rink on his own. It was probably a silly thought to most, as ice was mostly smooth but when you played on it, you could tell the difference between a smooth surface and a worn one. And right now, gliding around the rink with his stick in hand, Nick could let his thoughts settle.
There was only so much in his control here, and what was in his control he was happy with; new friendships with his teammates and his eyes now opened to this new world. That was what he had to accept and move forward with.
“Sneaking in early Burkhardt?”
The voice echoes as it rings out across the rink and Nick turns in surprise to see Renard standing by the team bench.
Monroe’s words come back to him, the whispers from the Wesen community about Renard and his position, and Nick’s own thoughts of how he’d been personally recruited by the older man. There was something at play here, something Nick couldn’t see yet but he knew to watch out now.
“Renard,” Nick greeted as he skated over.
“Not waiting for the rest of the team?”
Nick shrugged. “Thought I’d have a few minutes to myself before the craziness started,” he answered honestly.
Renard smirked. “It will definitely be crazy. I’ll be around later, if you have any questions.”
Nick frowned but all Renard did was nod at him with that smirk still in place and walk away as the sounds of others coming down the tunnel got louder.
Hap and Monroe were shoving each other good-naturedly though they both stopped as Renard walked past them. Hap instantly ducking his head whilst Monroe frowned and watched him warily. As soon as Renard was down the tunnel they started moving again, though with none of the easy camaraderie they were showing from seconds earlier.
“Everything okay man?” Monroe greeted him. “What did he want?”
“Don’t know,” Nick replied. “Something about crazy and he’ll be around later for questions.”
“Didn’t say anything to us,” Hap muttered.
“Yeah,” Nick says. “I noticed that.”
“Dude…” Monroe breathes and Nick just shakes his head.
“Let’s just…” he sighs. “Let’s focus on practice.”
He wants to concentrate on hockey and his new friends and nothing else. But he has a feeling that’s not going to be just in his control.
The others arrive soon and Nick huddles with Hank and Wu before doing reps with Monroe and then enjoying himself immensely in a line scrimmage. He, Hank and Wu have come from similar training backgrounds so have always gotten along well and played great together, but now he has Monroe and an extra understanding between them. Somehow it all ties together and their line is playing better than ever before.
Meisner and Alexander both comment positively on it and the rest of the team gets pulled along by the praise and upbeat focus. It’s a great practice and everyone is happy and exhausted and looking forward to their season ahead.
Nick feels like he can breathe properly now, with time on the ice and his place in the team cemented and his new friendships tested, he feels like he knows his place again; confident and comfortable in his skates and his role as player and Grimm.
“Everyone gather up!” Meisner shouts. “We have news and a visitor!”
The team all huddle around the bench, some on it, some standing on the ice in front of it. Nick grabs his water bottle and chugs, whilst others do the same or grab towels to wipe sweaty faces.
“This news was told to me literally a minute before practice began,” Meisner says. “So listen up and then ask questions, but not to me.”
Everyone quiets as people look around with frowns and Alexander shuffles forward.
“Our esteemed owner Sean Renard has entered us into a new competition,” he announces. “It will mean we’ll start our new season with a few games already under our belts and have a few weeks with several games to play between the season and this competition.”
There are instant murmurs of worry and groans of exhaustion. A normal season is bad enough but squeezing other games in and around it? Nick frowns as his brain kicks into a higher gear, wondering about Renard’s words from earlier and if there’s more going on here. Monroe catches his eye and he thinks his friend might be having similar thoughts.
“The new competition is being sponsored by a European company with Royal patrons so it will be an international event,” Alexander continues and Nick feels Monroe stiffen beside him as he quickly flashes back to some of the Wesen history he was taught, in particular the connections between the Royals of the Wesen world and Grimms.
The murmurs transform into bewildered mutterings. Nick looks around and this time catches Hank’s eye who looks utterly confused.
“Alright! Alright! We know it’ll be a challenge,” Meisner calls out. “But if practice today is anything to go by we’re more than ready for it.”
“There’s a few legalities to go through,” Alexander adds. “So you’re all free to go and get changed but before you leave today you need to have a quick chat with our team lawyer to arrange a proper meeting with her to discuss your contract changes this new competition will add on. Ms Schade will be waiting in the outer office. Make sure you set up an appointment with her. Have a good evening.”
Nick feels all the tension from earlier snap back into his body. He has to meet with Adalind?
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