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The bench was loud in the way it always was during games — sticks tapping against the boards, skates scraping the floor, trainers moving around with water bottles and towels while everyone leaned forward waiting for the next shift. But Mack barely noticed any of it anymore. Because the second Will reached over and casually grabbed smelling salts from another teammate instead of him, something in Mack’s face visibly changed. Not dramatic enough for anyone outside the team to fully clock it. But enough. Enough for Toffoli to immediately glance between them with the kind of expression that said oh here we go. Will cracked the capsule open against his glove, inhaled sharply, and shook his head once from the sting before handing it back like nothing happened. Like he hadn’t just committed a personal offense. Mack stared at him from two seats down, eyes narrowed slightly beneath his helmet. Not angry. Worse. Offended. Will noticed almost instantly. Of course he did. Because he always noticed when Mack got quiet in that specific way.
“What?” Will asked, trying not to laugh already.
Mack just looked away. Toffoli snorted under his breath beside them. “Uh oh.” “I’m serious,” Will said, leaning forward. “What’s that look for?” Still nothing. Which only made it funnier. Then, to make things even worse, Toff had absentmindedly rested a hand against Will’s waist while leaning over to say something to him — normal teammate stuff, barely even a second long — but Mack’s eyes immediately flicked down to it. Toffoli caught the look instantly. And immediately removed his hand. “Jesus Christ,” he muttered, laughing to himself. “My bad, Captain.”Mack rolled his eyes, but the damage was already done. Will looked between them both in disbelief before finally turning fully toward Mack. “You cannot be serious right now.” “You took salts from someone else.” Will blinked once. Then twice. Like he genuinely couldn’t believe that was the issue. “That’s what this is about?” “You always take mine.” The way he said it — quiet, stubborn, completely sincere — nearly destroyed Will on the spot. Toffoli physically had to look away because he was already grinning too hard. “Oh my god,” Will laughed, tugging at the bottom of his gloves. “You’re jealous over smelling salts.” Mack crossed his arms tighter against his chest. “I’m not jealous.” “You looked at me like I cheated on you.” “I did not.” “You literally did.” Mack tried to hold the glare for another few seconds before it cracked at the edges, his mouth twitching despite himself. That was all Will needed. He shifted closer on the bench, shoulder pressing into Mack’s immediately, their gear knocking together. “C’mere.” Mack resisted for maybe half a second before Will hooked an arm around him anyway, dragging him closer until he was tucked against his side in the middle of the chaos around them. Nobody even reacted anymore. At this point the team had given up pretending those two understood personal space.
“You’re ridiculous,” Will murmured, smiling into the side of Mack’s helmet. “You’re annoying.” “But I’m your annoying person.” Mack looked down, trying to hide the smile pulling at his mouth now. Will’s expression softened instantly at the sight of it. Because beneath all the teasing and jealousy and dramatics, there was something stupidly affectionate about the whole thing. Mack never acted like that with anyone else. Never got possessive in those tiny unconscious ways unless it was Will. And honestly? Will adored it. So before Mack could complain again, Will grabbed the sides of his face through the helmet straps and started kissing him everywhere he could reach. Quick kisses against his cheek. His temple. The side of his jaw. One after another until Mack was shoving at him while laughing under his breath.
“Will— stop—” “Nope.” Another kiss. “You’re being insane.” “And you’re jealous over ammonia capsules.” “I said I wasn’t jealous.” Will kissed his cheek again just to hear him huff. Then softer this time, quieter beneath the noise of the rink, he murmured against his skin, “You know I only want you, right?” That finally made Mack look at him properly. All the fake annoyance melted straight off his face at once. Will smiled immediately when he saw it happen. “There he is,” he whispered. Mack shook his head, embarrassed now, but still leaned closer anyway until their shoulders pressed together again naturally. And a few seats away, Toffoli looked toward the ceiling like he was asking for strength.
“Actually attached at the hip,” he muttered. Neither of them even denied it.
Toffoli outright laughed now, shaking his head before throwing an arm around Will for a second while still grinning at Mack. “Careful, Smitty. You’re in trouble.” And that was when it happened. Mack’s eyes immediately dropped to the arm around Will’s waist. A beat passed. Then another. Before Mack reached over without hesitation and literally swiped Toffoli’s hand off him. Not aggressive. Just extremely direct. Like: that belongs to me, thanks. The entire sequence happened so fast it almost looked natural. Toffoli stared at his own hand afterward in disbelief. Will froze. Mack sat back like he’d done absolutely nothing wrong. For about three seconds there was complete silence between them before Toff burst out laughing so hard he nearly folded forward. “Oh my god,” he wheezed. “He actually moved my hand.” Mack shrugged, still trying to act unaffected. “You were leaning on him.” “You shoved me off your boyfriend in the middle of a game.” “He’s not—” Will was already losing it beside him, shoulders shaking from laughter while Mack’s ears started turning pink beneath the helmet straps. “You are unbelievable,” Will managed. Toffoli pointed between them dramatically. “See? This is what I’m talking about. Actually attached at the hip. I can’t even touch this guy without Captain Possessive over here stepping in.” “I’m not possessive.” Mack said it immediately. At the exact same time he subtly shifted closer to Will on the bench. Which only made both of them laugh harder. “You didn’t need to touch him like that, that’s all” Mack muttered finally, quieter now, like that explained everything. Will looked at him for a second. Then his entire expression softened into something unbearably fond. The sincerity in his voice absolutely killed him. Because Mack genuinely sounded bothered by it. Not in a real angry way — more like he’d suddenly realized one of their things hadn’t been theirs for a second. Then Will turned towards Mack fully grabbing his face with both hands “You know I only want you, right?”
That finally broke the last bit of stubbornness in Mack’s expression. His face softened instantly, eyes dropping for a second before he leaned closer into Will without even thinking about it.
And somewhere beside them Toffoli sighed dramatically. “I’m never surviving this season.”
The second the game ended, Mack was still lingering close to Will like the entire bench incident had permanently rewired him. Not that Will minded. If anything, he was secretly obsessed with how clingy Mack got afterward. Because the jealousy had worn off now, replaced by something softer — that quiet neediness Mack only slipped into when he trusted someone completely. By the time they reached the parking garage, Mack was walking beside him with his shoulder bumping into Will’s every few steps like he physically couldn’t help himself. “You still mad at me?” Will teased while unlocking the Bronco. Mack slid into the passenger seat immediately, muttering, “Maybe a little.” Will laughed under his breath. “For smelling salts.” “You took somebody else’s.” Will shut the driver’s door, then just sat there for a second staring at him with the fondest expression imaginable. “You’re so cute when you’re jealous.” “I’m not cute.” “You swatted Toff’s hand away from my waist like a jealous husband.” “That didn’t happen.” Will reached over the console and intertwined their fingers before Mack could argue again. The reaction was immediate. Mack went quiet. Not shy exactly — just visibly satisfied the second Will held his hand properly, thumb brushing slowly across his knuckles while the city lights passed outside the windows. There it was. Passenger princess mode activated. Will genuinely had to fight a smile every time he glanced over and saw Mack sunk comfortably into the seat beside him, still holding onto his hand the entire drive like he belonged there. Which, honestly? He did. At one red light, Will looked over to find Mack already staring at him. “What?” Mack asked quietly. Will shook his head once, smiling to himself. “Nothing.” But it wasn’t nothing. It was the way Mack always softened around him when nobody else was watching. The way his jealousy earlier hadn’t even come from anger — just wanting reassurance that their little things still belonged to them. Will understood that feeling more than he probably admitted. So when they finally got back to his place, he barely gave Mack time to kick his shoes off before pulling him close again. “C’mere.” Mack laughed softly as Will wrapped both arms around his waist and guided him backward toward the couch, practically folding him into his chest. “You’re clingy tonight,” Mack murmured. “Says you.” “That’s different.” Will smiled against his cheek before kissing him there once, then again slower. Mack melted almost immediately beneath the affection, hands settling against Will’s hoodie while Will pulled him down onto the couch with him until they were tangled together comfortably. No hockey. No teammates. No Toffoli laughing at them. Just the quiet hum of the apartment and Mack tucked against him exactly where he wanted him. Will brushed his fingers through the hair at the back of Mack’s neck gently. “You really thought I’d suddenly replace you over smelling salts?”Mack groaned immediately, hiding his face against Will’s shoulder. “Don’t start.” “I’m serious.” Will tilted his chin up carefully until Mack looked at him again. His expression softened instantly seeing the lingering embarrassment there. “Hey,” he murmured. “My eyes are only on you, okay?” That finally made Mack fully relax. Will could literally feel it happen in his arms. And once Mack settled closer again willingly, practically curling into him now, Will decided he was going to make sure he never doubted it again. So he kissed him softly at first. Slow. Careful. Like reassurance more than anything. Mack kissed him back instantly, one hand sliding up into Will’s hair while Will deepened the kiss little by little, lingering every time their lips met again. It wasn’t rushed. That was the thing. Will kissed him like he had all the time in the world to prove it. Hands warm against Mack’s waist. Forehead brushing against his afterward. Another kiss against the corner of his mouth. Then one against his cheek just because he knew it made him smile. And when Mack finally looked at him with that completely content expression — all jealousy gone, all soft eyes and flushed cheeks — Will genuinely thought he might lose his mind a little. “There he is,” Will whispered again. Mack smiled this time instead of hiding it. Then quietly, almost smug now that he’d gotten exactly what he wanted, he murmured: “Okay… maybe you can take salts from other people sometimes.” Will laughed so hard he nearly collapsed on top of him again before immediately kissing his face all over once more anyway.
Eventually the teasing died down into something softer. Will had one arm wrapped around Mack while they sat tangled together on the couch, the TV playing quietly in the background even though neither of them was actually paying attention to it anymore. Mack was half lying against him now, legs thrown over Will’s lap while Will absentmindedly played with his fingers. Completely content. Which, naturally, meant he started getting hungry. “We should get snacks,” Mack mumbled sleepily against Will’s shoulder. Will looked down at him immediately. “Snacks?” “Mhm.” “You say that like a five year old.” “I want cookies.” Will laughed quietly, kissing the top of his head once. “Okay, baby.” Mack rolled his eyes at the nickname but visibly melted anyway. Ten minutes later they were standing in the kitchen in socks, sharing a plate of cookies and cold milk while Mack leaned against the counter beside him. At some point Will caught him stealing extra chocolate chips out of one of the cookies and just stared. “You’re unbelievable.” “You love me.” Will smiled instantly. “Yeah. Of course I do.” Mack bumped his hip into his with the softest grin. The whole apartment felt warm and sleepy now, their earlier jealousy completely forgotten beneath the comfort of being together again. By the time they finished eating, Mack was visibly getting tired, his movements slower while he followed Will down the hallway. But before Will could fully lead him toward the bedroom, Mack suddenly paused. “What?” Will asked. Mack looked strangely thoughtful for a second before mumbling, “I kinda wanna take a bath first.” Will blinked once. “Right now?” “Mhm.” Then Mack glanced at him from beneath his lashes with the most suspiciously innocent expression imaginable. “…Could you wash my hair first?” Will immediately narrowed his eyes. “That sounded way too planned.” “It wasn’t.” “Liar.” Mack only smiled softly before stepping closer again, hands sliding underneath Will’s hoodie until his palms rested warm against his waist. That alone already made Will’s brain short-circuit a little. Especially when Mack tilted his head up and kissed him slowly. Not teasing this time. Deep and warm and lingering enough that Will instinctively pulled him closer. Mack smiled against his mouth immediately like he’d been waiting for that reaction. Then he kissed him again — slower this time, fingers curling lightly into the fabric at Will’s back while the bathroom light spilled softly into the hallway around them. When they finally pulled apart, Mack stayed close enough that their foreheads brushed. And very quietly, like it was just an innocent little idea that definitely hadn’t been on his mind the whole time, he whispered: “…You wanna join me?” Will stared at him for about half a second before laughing under his breath in disbelief. “You’re actually evil.” Mack grinned immediately, completely pleased with himself now. But Will still followed him into the bathroom anyway, one hand settled firmly at Mack’s waist while Mack looked impossibly satisfied about getting exactly what he wanted all over again.