Random Backie/Ovie fic.
I heard about the game, and this came out. I just felt awful for Nicky. I wanted to hug him. The poor kid.
Sotnos is sweet in Swedish. Alskling is darling. Sotnos has an umlaut (how do you spell that? the accent with two dots above) above the first 'o'.
Up and Down
Elise
pg
Ovechkin/Backstrom
Nicklas is having a hard time after the Penguins/Caps game, where he knocked the puck in his own net by accident. fuck the penguins.
“Nicklas...” Boyd started as the young rookie entered the locker room after the devestating game.
Nicklas raised his hand, “Is not up for discussion.”
Boyd’s face fell a bit, but he tried again, Steve walking up to the two. “Really... it could happen to anyone. It’s no one’s fault.”
Nicklas calmly looked at the two and shook his head, moving towards his space, his heels dragging. He tried not to make eye contact. Steve chimed in, hoping to help, “We don’t blame you. It sucks, yeah, but these things happen.”
Still silent, the swede sat down, focusing on his skates. Brooks, sitting next to him, turned and said quietly, “Don’t beat yourself up.”
Nicklas finally spoke, eyes flashing in anger, covering the pain and embarassment, “I am fine. Is good. I make mistake. I work harder, next game.”
“Listen, kid...” Brooks said, but was interrupted.
“I am fine!” Nicklas snapped, his voice vibrating across the walls of the locker room.
The rest of the team looked up, giving him sympathetic glances. Nicklas flushed red and ducked his head, taking off his shirt. He fell into himself, face still, muscles tense. He tried to shut all the noise out. Brooks sighed and reached over, squeezing the young forward’s knee. Nicklas jerked away, flinching, and silently went back to dressing.
For the moment, it seemed, Brooks had given up and the group was leaving him alone. Nicklas smiled slightly, his shoulders relaxing. He could feel his face burn red, and his eyes burn. They had lost the game... because of him. He had been so used to the media telling him that he was a great player, that he deserved the Calder Trophy, that he would be the best one day. Nicklas took a staggered breath and shut his eyes, leaning back. He didn’t deserve his place on this team. Nicklas was interrupted once again as he felt someone sit beside him. Alex’s voice drifted over softly, “Sotnos,” He said, “Open your eyes.”
“Nej.” Nicklas said, his voice barely audible.
Alex smirked sadly, noting that Nicklas looked completely calm, except for a tremble in his hands. “Nicklas, look at me, please?”
Taking a deep breath, Nicklas turned his head, waiting a moment before slowly opening his eyes. He almost burst into tears as he saw Alex’s kind face. Alex smiled supportively and his face was void of blame. Alex grinned, “Is better, Sotnos. Open eyes are good.”
Nicklas noticed that the locker room was cleared out, mostly, leaving him with Alex. Sergei was speaking with Olie in the corner, and Matt was just leaving. Nicklas focused on Alex again and said, “Ovie... do me favor?”
Nodding, Alex said, “Yes, Nicklas. What do you need? I help. Today is past, ok?”
“Alcohol.” Nicklas said.
Olie looked up, keeping an eye on the two. He was trying to be inconspicuous. Alex frowned slightly. “No, Nicklas. You no need that. Today is over. Is past, I tell you.”
Nicklas shook his head, pushing Alex away. “You don’t understand.”
“We all make mistake.” Alex said, “Is ok, Backie.”
Nicklas went back into himself, ignoring his friend. He stood up, turning his back on Alex. Alex looked a bit upset and tried again. “Please, Nicklas, speak to me.”
Nicklas took another deep breath, his body beginning to shake. He could feel his eyes burn and he coughed, trying to think of other thoughts. Feeling shame creep up his body, Nicklas felt hot tears drip down his face. He was disgrace. He didn’t want to look at Alex. Alex who led the NHL in scoring and points. Alex who was being considered the next Gretsky. Nicklas didn’t deserve to be in the same room as Alexander the Great. Nicklas felt two strong arms circle around his waist and he inhaled deeply, his body trying to hold back his sobs. He felt Alex’s hot breath by his ear, whispering to him in the little swedish he knew. “Sotnos... sotnos.... my Sotnos... don’t cry. älskling...”
Nicklas turned in Alex’s arms and looked into the forward’s face. “I don’t deserve to be on team. Send me to home.”
Alex shook his head, bringing a hand up to Nicklas’ face, wiping away the tears. “No. You are unbelievable, Nicklas. You play well. Is not your fault.”
“Alex...” Nicklas started, the fight leaving him and suddenly feeling tired.
Alex shook his head and leaned forward, lightly brushing his lips across Nicklas’. Nicklas’ eyes widened in surprise, but he returned the kiss. Alex grinned, goofy, happy, confident. Nicklas hoped one day that he could look like that. Alex whispered, “You are incredible, Nicklas. I show you.”
“Ovie...” Nicklas stuttered, “I... feel up and down and up and down.”
Alex’s smile fell slightly and he nodded, “I know. I understand.”
Nicklas searched Alex’s face for the lie, but saw none. He blinked, his tears drying and he whispered, “I am embarassed.”
Alex shook his head, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “Nicklas, come home with me. I show you that you is best thing that happen to me. To team.” Alex paused and smiled nervously, “To me.”
Nicklas melted into Alex’s arms and nodded, tucking his face into the crook of Alex’s neck. He let out a sad laugh and nodded, pulling the forward closer to him. Alex gently stroked up and down the Swede’s back and they remained like that for a moment. Nicklas nodded, “I am ready.”
Alex grinned and said, “Sotnos, let’s go.”
Nicklas pulled back but his face turned red again, eyes widening. Alex’s eyebrows furrowed and he turned to see Sergei and Olie grinning like idiots on the other side of the room. Alex sighed and rolled his eyes as Olie began clapping his hands. “Bravo, boys, Bravo. I haven’t seen stuff like that since my ex made me watch lifetime.”
Sergei burst out laughing and draped an arm around Olie’s shoulders. “Truly, that was beautiful stuff. I’m touched. Really. Deeply touched. Olie, what about you?”
“It was so sweet. So sentimental. I have a tooth ache.” Olie laughed again, his arm going around Sergei’s waist.
Alex’s face broke out into a grin, despite him, and grabbed Nicklas’ bag. “Let us go.”
Nicklas’ jaw was still open and he stuttered, “Y...you... saw... I....”
Sergei’s face softened, his eyes crinkling, and said, “Have fun tonight. Relax. You should know that its ok.”
Nicklas turned to Alex who reached out, grabbing Nicklas’ hand, pulling him from the locker room. “I no be patient, Backie. Leave those jerks, ok?”
Nicklas grinned, blushing furiously and followed Alex from the room. Maybe he’d stick around.
Sotnos is sweet in Swedish. Alskling is darling. Sotnos has an umlaut (how do you spell that? the accent with two dots above) above the first 'o'.
Up and Down
Elise
pg
Ovechkin/Backstrom
Nicklas is having a hard time after the Penguins/Caps game, where he knocked the puck in his own net by accident. fuck the penguins.
“Nicklas...” Boyd started as the young rookie entered the locker room after the devestating game.
Nicklas raised his hand, “Is not up for discussion.”
Boyd’s face fell a bit, but he tried again, Steve walking up to the two. “Really... it could happen to anyone. It’s no one’s fault.”
Nicklas calmly looked at the two and shook his head, moving towards his space, his heels dragging. He tried not to make eye contact. Steve chimed in, hoping to help, “We don’t blame you. It sucks, yeah, but these things happen.”
Still silent, the swede sat down, focusing on his skates. Brooks, sitting next to him, turned and said quietly, “Don’t beat yourself up.”
Nicklas finally spoke, eyes flashing in anger, covering the pain and embarassment, “I am fine. Is good. I make mistake. I work harder, next game.”
“Listen, kid...” Brooks said, but was interrupted.
“I am fine!” Nicklas snapped, his voice vibrating across the walls of the locker room.
The rest of the team looked up, giving him sympathetic glances. Nicklas flushed red and ducked his head, taking off his shirt. He fell into himself, face still, muscles tense. He tried to shut all the noise out. Brooks sighed and reached over, squeezing the young forward’s knee. Nicklas jerked away, flinching, and silently went back to dressing.
For the moment, it seemed, Brooks had given up and the group was leaving him alone. Nicklas smiled slightly, his shoulders relaxing. He could feel his face burn red, and his eyes burn. They had lost the game... because of him. He had been so used to the media telling him that he was a great player, that he deserved the Calder Trophy, that he would be the best one day. Nicklas took a staggered breath and shut his eyes, leaning back. He didn’t deserve his place on this team. Nicklas was interrupted once again as he felt someone sit beside him. Alex’s voice drifted over softly, “Sotnos,” He said, “Open your eyes.”
“Nej.” Nicklas said, his voice barely audible.
Alex smirked sadly, noting that Nicklas looked completely calm, except for a tremble in his hands. “Nicklas, look at me, please?”
Taking a deep breath, Nicklas turned his head, waiting a moment before slowly opening his eyes. He almost burst into tears as he saw Alex’s kind face. Alex smiled supportively and his face was void of blame. Alex grinned, “Is better, Sotnos. Open eyes are good.”
Nicklas noticed that the locker room was cleared out, mostly, leaving him with Alex. Sergei was speaking with Olie in the corner, and Matt was just leaving. Nicklas focused on Alex again and said, “Ovie... do me favor?”
Nodding, Alex said, “Yes, Nicklas. What do you need? I help. Today is past, ok?”
“Alcohol.” Nicklas said.
Olie looked up, keeping an eye on the two. He was trying to be inconspicuous. Alex frowned slightly. “No, Nicklas. You no need that. Today is over. Is past, I tell you.”
Nicklas shook his head, pushing Alex away. “You don’t understand.”
“We all make mistake.” Alex said, “Is ok, Backie.”
Nicklas went back into himself, ignoring his friend. He stood up, turning his back on Alex. Alex looked a bit upset and tried again. “Please, Nicklas, speak to me.”
Nicklas took another deep breath, his body beginning to shake. He could feel his eyes burn and he coughed, trying to think of other thoughts. Feeling shame creep up his body, Nicklas felt hot tears drip down his face. He was disgrace. He didn’t want to look at Alex. Alex who led the NHL in scoring and points. Alex who was being considered the next Gretsky. Nicklas didn’t deserve to be in the same room as Alexander the Great. Nicklas felt two strong arms circle around his waist and he inhaled deeply, his body trying to hold back his sobs. He felt Alex’s hot breath by his ear, whispering to him in the little swedish he knew. “Sotnos... sotnos.... my Sotnos... don’t cry. älskling...”
Nicklas turned in Alex’s arms and looked into the forward’s face. “I don’t deserve to be on team. Send me to home.”
Alex shook his head, bringing a hand up to Nicklas’ face, wiping away the tears. “No. You are unbelievable, Nicklas. You play well. Is not your fault.”
“Alex...” Nicklas started, the fight leaving him and suddenly feeling tired.
Alex shook his head and leaned forward, lightly brushing his lips across Nicklas’. Nicklas’ eyes widened in surprise, but he returned the kiss. Alex grinned, goofy, happy, confident. Nicklas hoped one day that he could look like that. Alex whispered, “You are incredible, Nicklas. I show you.”
“Ovie...” Nicklas stuttered, “I... feel up and down and up and down.”
Alex’s smile fell slightly and he nodded, “I know. I understand.”
Nicklas searched Alex’s face for the lie, but saw none. He blinked, his tears drying and he whispered, “I am embarassed.”
Alex shook his head, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth. “Nicklas, come home with me. I show you that you is best thing that happen to me. To team.” Alex paused and smiled nervously, “To me.”
Nicklas melted into Alex’s arms and nodded, tucking his face into the crook of Alex’s neck. He let out a sad laugh and nodded, pulling the forward closer to him. Alex gently stroked up and down the Swede’s back and they remained like that for a moment. Nicklas nodded, “I am ready.”
Alex grinned and said, “Sotnos, let’s go.”
Nicklas pulled back but his face turned red again, eyes widening. Alex’s eyebrows furrowed and he turned to see Sergei and Olie grinning like idiots on the other side of the room. Alex sighed and rolled his eyes as Olie began clapping his hands. “Bravo, boys, Bravo. I haven’t seen stuff like that since my ex made me watch lifetime.”
Sergei burst out laughing and draped an arm around Olie’s shoulders. “Truly, that was beautiful stuff. I’m touched. Really. Deeply touched. Olie, what about you?”
“It was so sweet. So sentimental. I have a tooth ache.” Olie laughed again, his arm going around Sergei’s waist.
Alex’s face broke out into a grin, despite him, and grabbed Nicklas’ bag. “Let us go.”
Nicklas’ jaw was still open and he stuttered, “Y...you... saw... I....”
Sergei’s face softened, his eyes crinkling, and said, “Have fun tonight. Relax. You should know that its ok.”
Nicklas turned to Alex who reached out, grabbing Nicklas’ hand, pulling him from the locker room. “I no be patient, Backie. Leave those jerks, ok?”
Nicklas grinned, blushing furiously and followed Alex from the room. Maybe he’d stick around.