(no subject)
New Friends
Author: BrandedBySyn
Rating: PG
Pairing: Matt Duchene/Semyon Varlamov
Warnings: Homoerotic situations, language,
Disclaimer: The following is a work of fiction. No offense is intended. No profit is made in the writing or posting of this work.
Matt watched his new teammate run through a custom workout with their team trainer, each move the goalie forced his body into designed to keep him from injury, designed to keep the team’s investment safe.
Designed to keep their youngest superstar’s mind firmly in the gutter.
Matt had never made any pretense about being gay. Every single player on the team knew, a few had also been rather insulted when he had insisted he wasn’t the least bit attracted to them (not because they were interested in HIM but because it was a devastating blow to their supersized egos.) He had been interested in a couple of his teammates over the years, had even considered pursuing Paul until Erik had joined the team. Paul hadn’t known (or if he had, he hadn’t mentioned) about Matt’s attraction and Matt was grateful that Erik had joined the Avs before he had said anything, although he wasn’t sure what had hurt worse; seeing Paul launch himself into Erik’s arms or learning that Paul hadn’t trusted him enough to mention having had an ongoing relationship with his Team USA teammate. He had gotten over that hurt rather quickly after finding out that no one knew about their relationship until Hedjy caught them together in the locker room.
Semyon was different though. He was single, at least according to Alex Ovechkin, who had sent many texts to Matt since the trade, asking him to make sure Semyon was comfortable in his new home, with his new teammates, in his new city. Ovi had told him about the cruel way some blonde Barbie had waited until the goalie had slid a stunning ring on her finger and showered her with gifts in celebration of their engagement before breaking it off, taking the gifts, the jewelry, and as much of his money as she could get her claws on and vanishing. Sasha had found out weeks later that she had married another man, was supposedly carrying his child already. They hadn’t told Semyon about that, but Matt wasn’t sure the quiet goalie didn’t already know. Semyon had made friends with the majority of the defensemen, not that the out-going Ryan’s personalities would have allowed for him NOT too, but he was still very cool around most of the forwards.
Well, around Matt anyway.
Semyon spent a lot of time visiting with Erik and Paul, but the minute Matt wandered by; he would get quiet and leave soon after. Matt would frown, try and shake it off, but he couldn’t deny how much it stung.
Which is why he was the only other member of the Avalanche in the otherwise abandoned Pepsi Center. Two weeks of bugging Paul and Erik, asking them what Semyon’s problem with him was, had resulted in the defenseman threatening to set him up on a blind date the next time they were in St. Louis, and Matt was almost positive the name Kariya was whispered by his fellow center.
Matt was casually waiting in the locker room when the goalie arrived, hiding under the pretense of checking his sticks as the goalie began peeling off his workout clothes. “Hey,” Matt smiled, his heart skipping a beat when Semyon smiled back shyly. “Can I talk to you for just a second?” Matt ventured.
Semyon nodded, frowning slightly as he sat down on the bench in front of his locker. “Is there a problem?”
Matt sighed. “Not really…I don’t know…Maybe?” he mumbled, looking down at his hands. “Did I do something to you? Or does the fact that I’m gay bother you? Or is it just my personality? Or what is it?”
“You’re gay?” Semyon asked softly.
“You DIDN’T know?” Matt’s jaw dropped. “Yeah, I am.”
Semyon shook his head. “I had no idea,” he said softly. “I was told something far different.”
“Told what by who?” Matt frowned. “Never mind, that doesn’t really matter I guess. What matters is that you know it’s not true.”
Semyon nodded, smiling a little shyly. “Then me being gay won’t bother you?”
“No more than Erik and Paul, or Ryan and OB, or TJ and Kyle,” Matt shrugged. “Ovi told me about what happened this summer,” he admitted.
“With Dasha?” he questioned, shrugging when Matt nodded. “He tell you anything else?”
“Only to make sure that you are happy here and that no one on the team is messing with you any more than he would,” Matt grinned a little, glad that Semyon was relaxed and talking to him.
“He not tell you that I’ve had crush on you for two years?” Semyon asked casually, turning away from Matt to grab a towel.
Matt noticed the faint hint of pink that was creeping down Semyon’s neck. “No,” he admitted, “but since you just did, you interested in showing me just how flexible my favorite goalie is?”
Semyon turned and winked at him playfully. “Want to start in the shower or should I make this quick so you can take me home?”
Matt stripped down and virtually sprinted after the goalie, ignoring the laugh that echoed off the tile walls.