#it’s incredible how fragile his Rudolph is

[strechanadi]

Naïs Duboscq, Mathieu Ganio

Mayerling

photo Julien Benhamou

[unluckyhoneybee]

The Sister (Trevor Zegras)

After an unexpected breakup, you go to your brother for comfort. You aren't expecting either certain blondie to be there for you too. Fluff.

Note: the brother's best friend fic I talked about.

Trevor opened the door with a sigh. Finally. It has been the longest day and he just wanted to eat something and play video games. But no, before he could call Jamie, the guy appeared and told him to be quiet. Then, he pointed to the sofa and Trevor noticed a bump in there for the first time.

"Oh, you have a girl..." He teased with a smile but stopped half way when he saw how serious Jamie was.

"It's my sister".

"Oh, fuck. Sorry" Trevor covered his mouth because he had talked to loud and Jamie had looked at him with killer eyes. "Sorry" He whispered.

Trevor left his bag on the floor and walked closer to the sofa. "Is she okay? She doesn't look okay" You face was red and there were tissues on the floor.

"Come here"

The two guys went to the kitchen and Jamie closed the door. He was nervous. He was so nervous.

"Dude, are you okay? Is your family okay?" Trevor was starting to worry.

"Sam, her boyfriend, broke up with her. With a message. And she took a bus and came here. Do you know how long the trips from San Diego to Anaheim are? Three hours because the bus stops everywhere. And she walked all the way here and rang. But I was out for grocery shopping. And she waited for me in the porch while crying. Because that prick couldn't grow some balls and break up with her properly."

Trevor whispered a wow.

"She is staying, by the way."

"Yeah, of course"

"Don't you dare to bother her. Okay? Nothing. No weird stuff, no being annoying, no loud music, no clothes discharged everywhere..."

"Yeah, yeah. I know. We have a guest. I can behave"

You opened your eyes and brushed them. You didn't remember falling asleep, but now you head hurt like mad. You sat and looked around. Jamie was nowhere to be seen but here was light in the kitchen.

You muscles felt sore from the bus and you felt like crying again.

"Jamie, you can't do that"

You opened the door. Jamie and Trevor turned to look at you.

"What can't you do?" You softly asked.

Jamie shook his head and Trevor groaned. "Don't worry"

"I do"

"Kick Sam's ass" Trevor didn't know Sam. The only thing he knew was that he was a prick.

"Trevor" Jamie said irritated.

You sighed.

"Jamie..."

"I know"

The three of you fell into silence, tight and uncomfortable. Trevor had put his hands on his pockets, Jamie was looking at the floor with his arms crossed and you were there trying not to cry.

"Um... Jamie told me you are staying"

You looked at Trevor and Jamie rolled his eyes.

"Yeah" You said softly. "I'm sorry to bother"

"No! You don't. You are welcome here. Jamie's house is your house"

You frowned. He was weird.

"Okay?"

"Plus. Jamie and I wanted to buy a bed for the spare room. So what a better time!"

"Man. It's a horrible time" Jamie said.

Trevor looked at him and then at you and chuckled nervously. "Yeah. Sorry. I'll be in the shower"

Incredibly embarrassed, he scaped. Jamie and you shared a look and your brother opened his arms. You hugged him and broke down on sobs again.

"He can be really clever while playing hockey but sometimes..."

You shook your head and he sighed. You didn't want him worried for Trevor. You weren't so fragile.

Trevor cautiously came down after hearing the doorbell. He found you halfway. Your eyes were red and swollen and your nose looked like Rudolph's. You looked cute, but he wished you weren't feeling so bad.

"Hey" He said and smiled.

"Hi. I was going to call you. Dinner arrived. I'm feeling like shit so we are having a big dinner. With lots of fries. So..."

He chuckled softly. "There is ice cream on the freezer"

You smiled a bit and Trevor felt better with himself.

"Hey! It will get cold!"

You both went to the kitchen and sat and had dinner. You weren't feeling better, but the two guys joking and bickering, laughing at the most stupid things and telling you the most ridiculous stories helped a lot to not hink of that stupid message.

Then, Jamie insisted you should go to sleep but you didn't want to be alone, so you lied and told him you weren't tired.

Trevor pressed play and the opening scene of Shrek appeared on the TV. You chuckled and leaned on Jamie. But obviously, you were too tired. Shrek hadn't met Donkey yet and you were softly snoring. But eny of them minded. They let you sleep.

"Man" Jamie sighed as he walked into the kitchen. "She is out. Completely. A bomb could fall and she wouldn't wake up"

Travor chuckled a bit.

"I will have to leave her to sleep in there" Jamie sighed. With his injury, he couldn't carry you.

"Where was she sleeping?"

"My bed."

"And you?"

"The inflatable bed"

Trevor counted. 1, 2, 3... He thought about it. And at the end he still thought it was a good idea.

"I could take her upstairs" Trevor said cautiously.

Jamie needed also a few seconds. "Okay"

So Trevor grabbed you on his arms and felt his heart hammering fast when your nose pressed to his neck. Jamie had opened the sheets for you and then the blond laid you down.

"Hey" Jamie whispered and Trevor had to take his eyes from you. "Be gentle with her"

Trevor was confused. He didn't know what he meant, but he took it seriously. Jamie wanted him to be gentle and he would.

That's why surprisingly, after falling asleep at the sofa every single night, you kept waking in the bed. And why there was always some of your favorite foods ordered for dinner.

"Hey" Trevor sat next to you the fourth day. "You look better" He announced.

You smiled a bit and looked down at your hands.

"Thanks"

"Jimmy called and told me he has already arrived. So... We have like 3 hours, he said."

You looked at him with attention.

"Why don't you get dressed and we go and buy that mattress for the bedroom?"

You doubted. You didn't have much clothes. The trousers you wore when you came and a hoodie. The same you were wearing with a big chocolate mark staining on your chest.

"I'll give you something" He said as if he could read your mind.

Obviously, blasting Taylor Swift on the car, with the windows down was the best thing that happened to you in days. Then at the shop you swore they would kick you out.

"Stop it" You said pulling his arm.

"How do we know if we want if if we don't know how it feels"

He dramatically laid down on the bed and sighed. "Bah, too hard."

He repeated it with at least ten.

"Can I help you?" A lady appeared with an annoyed look.

"Um....well, yeah, but... I'm..."

"Yeah, you can. Please." He gave the woman a charming smile, but she didn't buy it. "You'll see. My cousin is pregnant. And she is staying with me and my husband for a couple of weeks. But we want a comfortable bed for her because we really appreciate her presence."

You covered your mouth to not laugh.

"So I was trying them."

"You need permission to do that"

"C'mon she is pregnant"

The woman looked at you and your face told her everything she needed to.

"You are not pregnant, aren't you?"

You shook your head.

"YN..." Trevor sighed in defeat.

"I'm going to ask you to behave or you will have to leave"

Trevor got up trying to not laugh.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. Um... Can we try the beds?"

The woman rolled her eyes and left.

"Rude" Trevor whispered. You elbowed him and he scoffed, but soon the two of you were laughing.

"You husband? Are you implying you consider my brother you husband?"

Trevor had gone red as a tomato.

"No! No, no, no. I'm... I was just trying to come up with a good backstory"

"You don't need a backstory for buying a bed!"

You were drying the tears of your face, your cheeks hurt from laughing so much. And that made Trevor incredibly happy.

"C'mon... It was a good one"

"It wasn't!"

You ended buying a bed somewhere else. He was stubborn and told them he could take it home, which was a really difficult task. And by the time Jamie arrived, you were both laughing so much you couldn't even stand.

"What is going on here?"

"Trevor... Oh fuck. Wait a minute" You regained your breath. "Trevor and I were installing the new bed. And he moved the mattress and pushed me and sent me flying to the ground"

Trevor had gone quiet because Jamie's eyes were cold on him. But you didn't notice.

"You friend is an idiot" You told your brother and hugged him before kissing his cheeks. "How... How did it go?"

"He wasn't there" Jamie said taking his mind from the scene he had come home to. "I left the keys were you told me"

You nodded and hugged him again. He wrapped his arms tight around you and kissed your cheek. "It's done, all your things are in the car"

You felt tears in your eyes. Jamie had gone to the apartment you shared with Sam to pick your stuff because going there and facing the reality felt huge for you.

"Thank you very much" You whispered. Jamie smiled and looked at Trevor, who was ocuppied on his phone. He was faking, to be fair.

"I cooked dinner for you" You told Jamie and he smiled.

"Are you coming back?"

You nodded and he squeezed you one last time.

During the dinner, Jamie heard you two talking about the adventures of finding the perfect mattress. He was feeling something on his stomach and he didn't like it a single bit.

"You had fun today, huh?"

"Yes. It was the most embarrassing moment I've lived in ages. But it was fun"

"What can I say?" Trevor said laughing.

As every night, you watched a film. But this day, you didn't fall asleep instantly. Jamie fell asleep on you. You were playing with his hair and he was softly breathing.

"Look at him" You said softly. "When we were little and we couldn't sleep he would come to my bed and ask me to rub his hair."

Trevor chuckled. "Cutie"

"Your husband? Yeah"

He laughed and you slapped his thigh. "Don't wake him up."

"I'm not interested in him. Like, I don't want Jamie to be my husband" He felt the need to clarify it.

You giggled. "I know, silly"

You got quiet again, but could feel Trevor looking at you from time to time. At some point Jamie moved a bit and you smiled softly.

"He is worried"

You looked at Trevor.

"He doesn't say it, but he is. I'm happy he didn't saw your ex at the flat."

You nodded. "Me too"

Trevor sighed.

"But he is happy you are here. We both are. You are a fantastic guess."

"You are not the best hosts" You said with a smile.

He chuckled. "That one there is noisy as fuck, isn't he?"

You nodded. "He has always been"

"But we are behaving, aren't we?"

"Yes you are. No dirty clothes around..."

"I don't know for how long we can keep it, though."

You giggled.

"You two are good. I can manage it. I've grown with boys at home."

When the film ended and you went to the kitchen to get some water, Trevor tried to wake Jamie up. He didn't know you could listen.

"Jimbo. Man. I can't carry you. You are much bigger than YN."

You covered your mouth and blushed deeply. Trevor had been taking you to the bed the past nights. You had supposed it was Jamie. But now it made sense because Jamie was injured.

You scaped to the guest bedroom shouting a goodnight that left the two guys surprised.

That new information took a bit of a toll in you for the next days. You wouldn't fall asleep on the sofa and if you were feeling sleepy you would leave them. Trevor thought it was weird and told Jamie.

"Nah, she is getting better. She is not as clingy anymore. That's a good sign."

But Trevor didn't buy it.

"Shh" Jamie stopped walking and Trevor crashed with him, almost throwing him to the floor.

"Shit, don't that Jimmy"

"Shhhh, YN is asleep"

They were both slightly drunk, so quietly, they decided it wasn't a good idea to move you. They weren't very stable and the only thing that could happen was one of them dropping you.

But after two hours of sleep and waking up too thirsty, Trevor decided that he could do it. He had sobered up.

"Come here" He said grabbing you on his arms. You whimpered and grabbed into his hoodie.

Trevor let a shaky breath out and moved quickly to your bedroom. He dropped you on the mattress and you nuzzled your face on the pillow. He found himself sitting on the side of the bed with his hand slowly caressing your head and a soft smile on his lips. You were so beautiful, so sweet, so nice... He was falling really hard.

Jamie was observing. He had gone to the bathroom and had seen the light coming from the bedroom. He saw his friend, being as gentle as he had asked him to be, looking at you as if he was looking at an angel, and felt his stomach dropping. He was scared.

"Thank you" You muttered when Trevor fixed the blanket and covered you better.

Trevor felt his breath hitch. "Y-you are welcome"

He slept like a baby that night, so did you. Not Jamie, though.

"A date" You gasped. One month into living with the two gremlins, Jamie had appeared cleaned and neat, dressing trousers on a nice shirt, and had told you he was going on a date.

Big steps and laughs were heard from the stairs.

"Jimbo is going on a date!? Oh dude, this is amazing! Let me tell Mas-"

Jamie took Trevor's phone and threw it at you. You hid it behind your back. You would obviously defend your sibling to death.

"No telling anyone! You will jinx it!" Jamie said pointing at Trevor. "Don't let him, YN"

Jamie had seen how Trevor and you had grown close and even though he wasn't the biggest fan of it he knew there was nothing to do.

"Promise"

"YN. You are a fun girl. Don't let me down"

"I draw the line on my brother, honey"

"C'mon..."

"Nah"

Jamie walked closer and hugged you.

"Hey, good luck. Be yourself and don't pretend. You are an awesome guy and everyone would be lucky to have you" You said pinching his rosy cheeks. You brother could be really shy and awkward sometimes, but you knew that was part of his charm.

He squeezed you and nodded.

"You are really cool and interesting. If she doesn't see it, she is not for you. And if she dares to be rude..."

"She better not" Jamie added.

"Exactly" You both laughed.

Trevor adored the two of you and watched with a smile.

Jamie turned to him. "No jokes"

"Nah, man. Good luck. And wrap it..."

"Shhhh." Jamie pushed him a bit, but Trevor laughed and gave him one of those bro hugs.

"Have a good time, Jimmy"

You were left alone.

"They grow so fast" You said drying fake tears.

Trevor chuckled.

"Hey. I'm going to see Mason now. But I'll be back for dinner"

You nodded slowly. "You can stay with him"

"Nah. I'll be back. Just gonna play some tennis."

"Okay. I'll order dinner. Just text me when you are on your way."

It felt so domestic.

Trevor texted you and you order food. But in the drive from Mason's house to yours, you had received a message.

"What's wrong?" Trevor closed the door and walked to you. It was a be surprised to be engulfed by his arms so quick, the warmth embracing you. "Is Jamie okay?"

You nodded. If you weren't so affected you would have said an owww.

"What's wrong? YN C'mon, talk to me"

Trevor was preplaying those things he had seen Jamie do when you were at your lowest after the breakup.

"Look" You unlocked your phone.

There was a photo of a couple. Happy six months, my love. He didn't know them, so he pressed the icon to see the tagged people. Sam. Your ex Sam. Six months. He saw red for a second. Then you sobbed and he hid the phone from your view.

He leaned against the side of the sofa and your clinged into him, wrapping your leg around his and hugging his torso.

"You don't deserve that"

"I'm an idiot"

"No you are not. He is" He said against you hair. "You are perfect like you are. There is nothing wrong"

"But..." You were feeling so used. Horrible. Stupid.

"No, no. No buts, YN. It's not your fault he couldn't see how amazing you are"

You sobbed and Trevor felt your tears on him.

"That's why he broke up with me..." You said and gripped his hoodie. "After cheating on me for five months"

Trevor ran his hand over your hair and held you close. I wish Jamie was here. He was your brother. He knew you well, he was sure he would say the right thing. But he was staying there just holding you because he didn't know what else would help.

"He is a coward." He muttered.

You stayed for some time like that. He held you and you dried. But at some point, he touched your cheek.

"You know what? We are going to the roof. Jimmy and I love spending time in there. It's so peaceful. You are going to love it"

You waited for the food to arrive and soon Trevor was helping you into the roof, where you sat on a blanket you had carried. They liked sunsets, they loved watching them in there. But it was already dark.

Trevor sat next to you and opened the fried chicken bag. He took a piece and bit it. "Mhm"

You smiled.

"The best chicken in the city" You said.

"Fuck yes"

You ate and drank some cola in silence, vary talking about the food. And then, he put the papers in their bag and drank the rest of can. He burped and blushed deep, but you only giggled.

"Don't worry, Trev." You said sitting a bit closer. "The walls are thin in this house"

"Oh my fucking god" He said laughing and brushing the hair out of his face.

You scooped a bit closer and wrapped your arms around his own. You wanted to feel him close.

"Jamie said you get clingy when you are sad" He whispered. Him talking was basically a way to hide how nervous he truly was.

"Yeah" You said leaning your chin on his shoulder. Trevor covered your hands with his. "I'm feeling like shit, actually. I was fine. And now..." You sighed.

Trevor kissed your forehead softly and you blushed. Both of you were glad of the dim light in the roof.

"You are lucky he is gone."

You frowned a bit. "What does it mean?"

"You could still be tied to that piece of shit. He shouldn't have cheated on you, obviously. But at least he didn't..."

"He cheated for five months, Trev"

"I know. But at least he used the little brain cells he has and cut things of."

"You are horrible at this" You whispered. "But thank you"

He smiled a bit. "Just tell me to shut up if you want to."

"Nah, it's fine" You smiled a bit and kissed his shoulder.

Trevor leaned his head against his.

"I left everything back at home for him, moved to San Diego... And now... He gives me the kick"

Trevor kissed your forehead and you moved your face a bit. As if receiving and invitation, he kissed your cheek and then leaned his head on yours.

You stayed in silence and it felt too good to be true. Too comfortable and easy. At some point, you had leaned on his chest, now you had moved and were laying between his legs, his arms around you and chin on his head.

"I'm telling you" You said while playing with his hand.

"You are a big softie"

"My heard it's broken, Trevor" You said and he chuckled.

"So... Folklore."

You nodded.

"Dramatic"

"It's her best fucking album."

"Okay, okay"

"Jimmy bought it to me for Christmas and really, the best fucking gift ever"

Trevor tightened his arms around you and you sighed. It feels so good. So so good.

"Jamie is a good brother, huh?"

"He is. I'm glad you guys are living him him. Just imagine him playing with the Rangers... Or the Canucks... So far..."

"Why did you moved to San Diego?"

"He got me a job in there. But it was kind of shitty. Too much hours of working underpaid. Then coming back to my perfect boyfriend and..."

"You'll be better now" He said and looked down. "Jamie and I are here for you. You know you can stay here for as long as you want."

You turned your face to the side and a shiver ran up and down your spine. His nose was touching yours. You were so close you could kiss him. Your heart was hammering in your chest. You wanted this so much. You wanted to lean in, to close the gap, taste his lips.

But then a noise from the street made you look down.

"Fuck" You heard him groan.

You cleared your throat.

"let's go to sleep" You muttered. "I'm tired."

Trevor nodded. You both picked the things in silence and climbed back into the house. You moved around the place, leaving the stuff in the kitchen, the blanket on the sofa,... You washed your teeth and right when you were going to close your door, Trevor called your name. You turned around and he walked closer.

"I'm sorry"

"Don't be" You answered quickly. "There is nothing to be sorry about"

"No?"

You shook your head.

"Was it okay?"

You nodded. You really wanted him to kiss you. But your feelings were confusing right now. You needed a long talk with Jamie.

So did Trevor. But a kiss wouldn't hurt anyone. He stepped in your space and you leaned back against the wall, your lips sweetly parted and you sighed. Trevor cupped your cheek and tilted your head slightly back so he could have a better access.

"I'm going to kiss you" He quietly said, so different from his usual voice.

"Okay"

He did. He captures your lips in a slow and soft kiss. With his hand on your waist, he had your pressed against the wall. You were loving ever secong of it. Your hands had come to rest on his neck and he was just wishing for you to tangle them in your hair. You kissed for long, long time, slowly making out in the corridor but not moving further. Your hands stayed where they started and and of you tried to make a bigger move. Why? Because you both needed to talk to Jamie.

You pulled back and bit your lip, your eyes looking at his. He was smiling.

"I suppose that's a good night kiss" He said.

You nodded.

"Have a good night, Trevor"

"Good night, sweetheart" He kissed your lips once more.

It was indeed a good night of sleep, and then in the morning Jamie hadn't come back yet. You smiled proudly and went to the kitchen to make some breakfast.

Trevor came down soon after and gave himself some seconds to observe you. He was loving this so much. You looked so comfy and domestic, so cute with your morning messy hair.

He walked slowly and whispered a good morning.

"Good morning, Trev" You said with rossy cheeks. You had kissed last night.

"Smells good" He walked closer and leaned on the counter.

"French toast. Just how Jamie likes it. I'm sure he needs something sweet to recover" You chuckled. "If he arrives for breakfast, of course"

"Most supportive sister in the world"

"That's me"

Trevor loved your little shy giggles, so he couldn't contain himself, he cupped your chin with two fingers and captured your lips on a kiss.

Jamie closed the door slowly, he wanted to avoid curious questions or comments about the mark on his neck. His plan was to hide on his bedroom and try to cover it. But he heard the kitchen working and sighed. He walked slowly, he could deal with you. Not with Trevor, he would start laughing and joking and...

"No, no. No. No, no, no, no. No" He was in complete denial. That wasn't happening.

Trevor and you pulled away and looked at him. Trevor's hands fell on his sides and felt frozen. He was, for once, left speechless.

"Jamie" You walked to your brother. "I can explain"

But before you could reach him, he turned around and left your with the words hanging. You heard the loud noise of the door closing with rage.

"Fuck." You groaned. "Fucking shit, Trevor" You turned and looked at him.

"It shouldn't have happened" He said avoiding your eyes.

But no, you were not buying it.

"Do you really think that?" You crossed your arms in your chest and stepped on his space, between his parted legs and he leaned on the counter. "Answer, Zegras"

"No. I don't"

"Then?"

"Look at that" He said pointing at the corridor. "Look what we have done!"

You ran your hands over your face. You were tired of spending days crying, of feeling like shit and having your heart broken. So you wouldn't let this happen again.

Your hands fell on Trevor's chest. "Listen... I... I'm going to talk to him because my head is so messy right now. I need my brother to help me and hug me and talk some sense into me. But then... Then you and I are going to have a talk, okay? Because... I like you, Trev."

He was a bit speechless. He hadn't been so quiet in ages. But he grabbed your waist and pulled you for a hug.

You went upstairs and knocked at Jamie's door.

"James" You whispered.

He was face down on the bed. He had changed into comfy clothes.

"Go away"

"When has that worked?" You let yourself in and crawled on the bed. "Look at me"

He did. You both laid on your sides.

"What's going on?"

"I could ask the same"

"Okay. Trev and I kissed. Twice. The one you saw and another one last night"

"Why?"

You sighed. "I think I like him"

Jamie groaned and laid on his back.

You frowned. "Whats wrong? And don't you dare to say I can't date him"

He didn't say anything. So you had to push a bit more.

"Okay... Um... Fuck" He blushed. "I'mscaredebecauseTrevorandyoubecamefriendsreallyquickluandnowypuarekissingandstuffandyouwillstartdatingandniwillbealoneand..."

"Alone?"

You pressed a hand on his chest. Jamie covered his face.

"Alone"

"Why would you be alone?"

"Because you and Trevor would be a great couple and any of you would need me anymore" Jamie said and his eyes filled with tears. "You will complete each other and Trevor will have his best friend and you will have your comfort person on each other and I won't have a job to do anymore"

"Oh Jamie" You hugged him tight and kissed his cheek. "That's never going to happen. Never. Do you hear me? You are my biggest comfort person and there is no single way you are loosing me. You are not, Jamie. We are siblings and that's it. You will have to deal with me for life. I'm sorry" You said with a smile.

He turned to look at you.

"Trevor is awful. He is noisy and talks nonstop. And he doesn't do groceries. Are you sure?"

You giggled. "I wanted to tell you first, but he is Trevor and he kissed me."

He smiled.

"You really like him, like... A lot"

You nodded.

"I knew"

"How"

"I know you guys too much"

"Jimmy!" The door opened. "Listen. I will ask you for YN's hand in marriege if you want me to. But please... Don't hate me"

Trevor jumped in the bed too and we both huffed.

"I'm really sorry, dude. I should have... I don't know..."

"Trev. Hey. It's okay" You said patting his shoulder.

"Is it?"

You nodded.

Jamie moved a bit uncomfortable and sat. Trevor and you sat too.

"So... You guys..."

Trevor and you shared a look. "Yes" You muttered. "I mean. I think so. We haven't talked but... Um..."

"I like you" Trevor said. "I think I'd like to have a couple of dates."

You smiled. "I hope a bit more"

"Don't do this in my bed" Jamie groaned.

You chuckled.

Trevor looked at you and smiled softly. "You are not going to tell me, right?"

Jamie looked at him and patted his back. "Don't become a stranger" He said.

Trevor smiled. That cute smile with closed lips and eyes so small you couldn't see the iris. "Man, we are brother's in law now. Beasties, teammates, brother's in law..."

"We only kissed twice, Trev" You said laughing.

"Are you still sure?" Jamie said with a smile.

"I'm trying to not think twice" You giggled. "Let's go, I'm making your French toast. You need to tell me about that girl"

"Not think twice about what? Hey! What are you sure of!?"

Jamie and you scaped to the kitchen laughing like kids.

"Hey!"

Trevor was quickly following you.

While having breakfast, Jamie told you about the date, how amazing the girl was... He was happy. And at the end, he cleaned his mouth and looked at you two.

"You make a good couple. But Z, if you dare to hurt her..."

You smiled and grabbed Jamie's hand.

"Also. No sex if I'm here because I can't deal with that. There is no room to negotiate. And I don't want to know any details. Any!"

"Pinky promise" You told him with a smile.

[junker-town]

5 winners from Week 16 of the NFL season

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Michael Thomas: NFL receptions leader. The Eagles: possibly saved us from more Cowboys games. Both heroes.

We’re almost there. There’s only one Sunday left until the 2019 NFL season comes to a close.

That means Week 16 was your penultimate chance to watch teams like the Bengals, Dolphins, Rams, and Bears. It may have also been one of your last chances to watch the Steelers (done in by backup quarterback mistakes) and Cowboys (general incompetence) as this year’s finale looms.

With one week left, we know 10 of the 12 playoff teams. But there are still a handful of postseason positions to be jockeyed for — including homefield advantage in the NFC and the AFC’s second bye — and two playoff races between Pittsburgh/Tennessee/Oakland (seriously) and Dallas/Philadelphia.

That took the edge of some of this week’s action, but the winners weren’t just the teams that finished their day with a higher number on the scoreboard. Sunday’s victors extended beyond the box score. Here’s who most won Week 16 in the NFL’s 2019 season.

It wasn���t: the Steelers, who may have had their playoff hopes crushed by the ... Jets? no wait that can’t be ri-

Oh damn, it is! The Steelers threw both their backup quarterbacks into the fire against the NFL’s 19th-ranked passing defense and barely cracked double-digit points. Mason Rudolph took back QB1 duties from Duck Hodges in the second quarter, tied this game at 10-10 going into halftime, then exited with a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter. Hodges came back, only to lead the team to 27 total yards on three drives in a 16-10 loss to a previously 5-9 team.

Pittsburgh’s havoc-heavy defense limited the Jets to just 259 yards — and held old friend Le’Veon Bell to 93 yards on 29 total touches — but couldn’t force the game-breaking turnovers that have lifted the Steelers’ anemic offense in the past. With one loss to New York, Pittsburgh has gone from controlling its own destiny to needing help to backdoor its way into the playoffs.

That loss was simultaneously great for Tennessee, which had nothing to play for in Week 16, somehow. A win over the Saints would have built morale. A loss ... well, didn’t really have any effect on the Titans’ playoff chances:

Weird scheduling quirk today... turns out the #Titans-#Saints game means basically nothing for Tennessee. It does not alter any playoff scenario, per @NFLResearch. The breakdown: pic.twitter.com/4uYlZjcb2r

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 22, 2019

Head coach Mike Vrabel took that opportunity to rest tailback Derrick Henry and his ailing hamstring. This was unfortunate for the fantasy owners who’d ridden his 238 fantasy points — fourth-most in the league! — into their championship game just to see him sitting on the inactives list. The Titans, on the other hand, managed to mostly cope just fine.

the Titans aren't missing Derrick Henry yet pic.twitter.com/bCTsSv6ZEY

— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) December 22, 2019

The Titans just need one more win — or a Steelers loss — to clinch the AFC’s final playoff spot. They finish the season against a Texans team that beat them in Week 15, so their path to the postseason may be defined by how Rudolph and/or Hodges do against the Ravens, who have nothing to play for after clinching homefield advantage.

And that should provide an answer to the question we’ve all pondered: are the 2019 Steelers better than the Ravens’ backups? If they aren’t ... how are we all feeling about an 8-8 Raiders team in the playoffs?

Now on to ...

Week 16’s actual winners

5. Middle fingers everywhere

Sunday was a great day for gridiron hate. Panthers defensive lineman Vernon Butler got so heated about getting blocked that he couldn’t restrain himself for punching a player who had no connection to his rage:

I love when we get DLmen this upset. We are doing our job then. And then he punches the wrong player and gets ejected. pic.twitter.com/EL70m6CvMu

— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) December 22, 2019

That earned him an ejection. Because that wouldn’t result in enough of a fine for his liking, Butler made sure to flip off some fans on his way out. Those Colts fans, likely shocked by his impudence, were forced to watch their team win 38-6 without any avenue to properly drop tenderloin-flavored insults at the Carolina defensive lineman.

On the Cleveland sideline — stuck in the middle of a 31-15 loss to the Ravens— continued to boil over. This time it was Odell Beckham Jr., not Jarvis Landry, openly questioning head coach Freddie Kitchens in the middle of a game. The Browns were held to just 15 points after scoring 40 points in Baltimore in Week 4. One Cleveland fan summed that up, and the whole Browns’ season in general, thusly:

Things seem to be going well in Cleveland. pic.twitter.com/93oWjJbnSh

— Rory Cooper (@rorycooper) December 22, 2019

In Denver, in a battle of teams with eight wins between them, the NFL blessed us with more birds. Possibly even a child’s finger!

pic.twitter.com/At6i2cvVR3

— Offbrand John Starks (@its_Telf) December 22, 2019

The face. The indignation. The perfectly extended finger. It’s art.

To that young person’s credit, they ostensibly paid a significant sum of money to watch David Blough throw for 117 yards. They earned the right to flip off any grown man in a Broncos suit jacket who might ask for a high-five. Read the room, ponytail guy.

Meanwhile, Chicago fans haven’t been able to muster up nearly as much full-throated frustration when it comes to their own dashed playoff dreams.

"fine, i'll boo my awful team. but i'm not gonna put my heart into it." pic.twitter.com/9KoPc0Fwyt

— Christian D'Andrea (@TrainIsland) December 23, 2019

4. The Eagles, who may spare us from having to watch the Cowboys in the playoffs

Dallas faced a win-and-in situation in Philadelphia. A victory against the Eagles meant head coach Jason Garrett would possibly save his job by wrapping up an NFC East title. A loss meant relying on the Giants to upset Philly in Week 17 just to keep the hope of sneaking into the playoffs alive.

In true 2019 Cowboys fashion, the team saw an opportunity and then vomited all over itself. Dallas fell to 2-8 this season against franchises with .500 records or better by scoring just nine points against Philadelphia’s 17th-ranked scoring defense. The Cowboys’ receiving corps dropped several key passes to keep the offense from ever finding a rhythm. Dak Prescott, dealing with a shoulder injury, needed 44 passes to throw for 264 yards without finding the end zone once.

While Dallas wore its failures like a child stumbling around in a tuxedo, the Eagles deserve credit for pushing their rivals to that (incredibly fragile) breaking point.

Carson Wentz, who’d burned off any MVP hype earlier this season, threw for 300+ yards for his third time in four games. Miles Sanders did the heavy lifting of an injury-ravaged running back rotation and gained 156 total yards. Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert, who were tasked with carrying a passing game without Alshon Jeffery, DeSean Jackson, or Nelson Agholor, teamed up for 13 receptions.

Philly fans were so emboldened by the win that one even managed to sneak his way into coach Doug Pederson’s postgame press conference (before immediately giving his true identity away).

Some #Eagles fan snuck into Doug Pederson's press conference and Doug had to kick him out #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/vhiwYXQpoe

— Kristen Rodgers (@KristenERodgers) December 23, 2019

The Eagles now just have to beat the 4-11 Giants to lock up their second division title in three years. The last time they did that, they also won the Super Bowl.

(They also had Nick Foles, but I digress ... )

3. Giants-Washington, which against all logic was a hot-fire shootout

After 21 minutes of game time, the Giants and Washington had combined for 35 total points. Dwayne Haskins completed 12 of his 15 passes for two touchdowns and zero interceptions before leaving the game in the third quarter due to an ankle injury.

Daniel Jones had his third game of 2019 with at least four touchdown passes — joining Deshaun Watson and Fran Tarkenton as the only rookies to hit that mark. His fifth carried New York to an overtime victory in a 41-35 kaiju big battel in the nation’s capital.

FOR. THE. WIN.#GiantsPride | #NYGvsWAS pic.twitter.com/b5oPT0LCO8

— New York Giants (@Giants) December 22, 2019

That was also the first time a rookie had thrown for 350+ yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions in league history.

While Sunday portended bright futures for Jones and Haskins, the game’s biggest story may have been the return of the 2018 version of Saquon Barkley. The reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year had struggled over the latter half of the season after suffering an ankle injury in Week 3. He went three full months without a 100-yard game before gashing the Dolphins for 112 yards last week.

Barkley outdid himself in Week 16, when he ran over a team bound for the top five of the 2020 NFL Draft yet again. He rushed for a career-high 189 yards (55 of which came in the fourth quarter and overtime) and caught four passes for 90 more — including this deep ball touchdown from Jones.

Not many like him #GiantsPride | #NYGvsWAS pic.twitter.com/s4N866BtVT

— New York Giants (@Giants) December 22, 2019

Washington was still a winner despite being on the unfortunate end of the 41-35 final score. It now has the inside track on the No. 2 overall pick — and that could mean adding Heisman candidate Chase Young to their pass rush. For a team that’s been bullish on Ohio State products recently (including Haskins and top wideout Terry McLaurin), losing may have been the best outcome.

2. Nyheim Hines, who threw off some real Devin Hester vibes

While Butler was off enraging Colts fans (jokes on him, the easiest way to do it would have been to suggest Frank Reich’s coaching last week was subpar), Hines was delighting them. The second-year tailback had only four career punt returns before he faced off with the moveable object that is Carolina’s special teams.

Hines accounted for 195 yards on punt returns against the Panthers, good for fourth-most in NFL history. He only needed three returns — including a pair of touchdowns — to get there.

HE DID IT AGAIN YOU GUYS ‼️ @TheNyNy7 | #CARvsIND pic.twitter.com/3wz8NijVMW

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 22, 2019

How’d he do that? The answer was good blocking, strong lane identification, and some blazing, punter-embarrassing top-gear speed:

To the house ➡️ Down the tunnel. @TheNyNy7 takes it ALL THE WAY ‼️ pic.twitter.com/cMf5JNVe3y

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 22, 2019

Hines had 66 career punt return yards before Week 16. He had returns of 40, 84, and 71 yards on Sunday alone. That was enough to gloss over another mediocre performance from Jacoby Brissett behind center and end Indianapolis’ four-game losing streak.

1. Michael Thomas, who set the NFL single-season reception record

And will probably shatter it Week 17.

Thomas hasn’t had a game this season in which he’s had fewer than five receptions. He’s had 10 with 100+ receiving yards — including Sunday’s 136-yard performance that kept the Saints in the running for a playoff bye.

The fourth-year wideout carved up a middling Titans secondary for 12 catches, increasing his season total to 145 — two more than Marvin Harrison’s NFL record of 143 back in 2002. New Orleans used every inch of his effort. Thomas’ record-setting catch set up the Saints at the Tennessee 1-yard line late in a 31-28 game.

⚜️144 ⚜️@CantGuardMike's record-breaking catch #Saints pic.twitter.com/lZpKfNxmhr

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 22, 2019

The icing on the cake was a touchdown reception two plays later that effectively iced out the Titans’ comeback hopes. So how did Thomas feel after coming away with a 17-year NFL record AND a win in one fell swoop?

Actually, he’s just looking forward to the playoffs, especially after the way New Orleans was ushered out of the postseason last winter.

@Cantguardmike says the record doesn't mean anything right now "We are focused on one common goal and that is a championship"#Saints pic.twitter.com/ubfy9Nx2vP

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) December 22, 2019

Thomas will be called upon in Week 17 as the Saints continue their push toward homefield advantage in the NFC. He’ll square off against the Panthers, who he burned for 10 catches and 101 yards in Week 12. A similar output may give him a single-season receptions record that could stand for 30 years.

Or until Thomas comes back in 2020.