#mikko rantanen writing

[sc0tters]

Push It | Mikko Rantanen

summary: when Mikko sees you getting stressed late one night, he feels obligated to step in to help.

kinkmas: day nine (squirting)

warnings: sexual themes, p in v, oral (fem receiving!), thigh riding, swearing.

word count: 3.39k

authors note: this is my second time writing for Mikko and I have to say that I am kind of in love with this one? it also took me way longer to write it than I would actually like to admit either but we now only have three days left in kinkmas! if you want to read more from kinkmas you can find the playlist here!

Mikko swore you were doing this to punish him.

What for? Now Mikko didn't have the answer to that one just yet. But with Christmas a mere few days away and his family arriving on Sunday, you were in full swing wrapping presents. You had met his family for the first time in the summer when Mikko convinced you to come home with him. So it was suffice to say that you were beyond stressed out by the fact you were hosting his family for Christmas. His parents adored how happy you made their son but that didn’t bring you any comfort as you stayed up well beyond an appropriate time.

It frustrated Mikko as he woke up to an empty bed when his alarm clock flashed 3:00AM. With him being home for a couple of days before another road trip with the team all Mikko wanted was to spend time with you, something that became a challenge as you stressed about preparing the house for his family's arrival. Begrudgingly he pushed the comforter off of his chest as he got up sliding his slippers on in an attempt to bring himself some warmth in the battle of combatting the Colorado winter.

The lights in the dining room illuminated Mikko’s path down the staircase as he could hear you mumbling incoherent things to yourself in frustration. His footsteps were quiet as he stood at the door to see what looked like Christmas had thrown up over the table. Wrapping paper and ribbons covered as much of the wood as the eye could see “muru?” Mikko cleared his throat as he called out stood at the opposite end of the table.

Scents of the gingerbread house you made during the afternoon traveled around the bottom floor of the house “hey.” You forced a smile onto your lips as you pressed your hands onto the table. Concern was evident on his face as he walked over to you “come to bed.” Mikko’s voice was soft as he crouched down placing his hands on your knees.

You shook your head turning to look back to focus on the final presents in front of you “not yet love.” You mumbled avoiding his eye as you could feel his burning gaze.

Mikko ran his fingers over your bare thighs trying to capture your attention “I can’t sleep.” You explained chewing at the inside of your cheek “have a way I could help you.” He smirked pressing a kiss against your shoulder making you squirm.

He smiled hearing you whimper as you stopped wrapping the present as though you were contemplating hearing him out “what is it?” You sighed raking your fingers through your hair as you turned to him “if I make you come before finish wrapping then you come to bed.” The offer made you squirm as your cheeks turned red.

You ran your tongue over your teeth “and if I finish before?” You tried to puff your chest out in an attempt to keep your nerves calm “then I’ll wear that sweater of yours for the party.” Mikko hated the sweater you had gotten him for the team end of year holiday party, so either way you were truly winning.

Mere seconds passed as you thought about what you would do as you eventually nodded “deal.” You shifted to the back of your chair “need you to get up so I can get you out of these.” His voice was coarse as he tapped your thighs when he repositioned himself to sit under the table.

He watched you listen to his instructions leaning towards the table as your ass was in the air “you knew you were gonna do this didn’t you?” Mikko smirked seeing your pink panties that had a wet patch that formed on the center “won’t make you wait Rakas.” He cooed bringing your panties down to your ankles.

You sat back down shifting your legs so that your cunt was in line with his face “such a pretty little pussy.” Mikko mumbled pulling you closer to him as you sat on the edge of your seat.

The hockey player could hear you weren’t moving anything “you want to start before you lose baby.” Mikko clicked his tongue making you whimper as he pressed his lips against the inside of your thighs “right Mik.” Your voice was shaky as you nodded beginning to continue wrapping those presents.

His lips were soft against your skin as they left a trail of sloppy kissed until he teased your folds “can’t believe you’ve stayed up all night.” Mikko urged not giving you the chance to respond as he pressed his tongue flat against your slit making you groan.

It made your thighs tense “god Mikko.” You blew your lips into a raspberry as your hands clenched around the scissors “such a sweet cunt.” He praised you as he locked his arms around your thighs bringing you even closer to him.

You used all of your strength to focus on what was in front of you. Mikko latched his lips around your clit letting his tongue swirl around your sensitive nub “getting so needy already.” He mumbled against your cunt sending shivers up your spine making your hands shake.

Mikko had always been skilled with his tongue and tonight was truly no different. Treating you like you were his last meal. The starved man beneath you let his tongue lay flat in your cunt stretching as far as he could possibly go. You did you best to not think about the sheer levels of pleasure you felt as you tied a bow in the ribbon that wrapped around the box.

One down, three to go.

Your cunt tasted sweet on his tongue as it almost egged him on “r-right there!” You stammered feeling his nose hit your clit “the way you’re acting has me thinking you didn’t want this.” Mikko pulled his lips away from you as he moved his hand to tease your clit staring up at you “you aren’t even trying.” He clicked his tongue as he shook his head.

You whimpered in response gripping at the packaging of the box “I am!” You nodded figuring that if you said it with enough conviction you could actually believe it.

He watched you try to continue and part of him contemplated putting the bet off wanting please you properly but as your legs began to shake. The ideas of going east on you left Mikko’s mind “just let yourself go y/n.” Mikko didn’t often call you by your name as he usually settled for a nickname in Finnish since you loved his mother tongue.

The desire to let yourself come built in your belly as your eyes began to flutter “not yet.” Your jaw froze as you tried to put it off. But as Mikko swiped his tongue over your clit he slotted his fingers into your cunt making sure that you didnt have the chance to not come “fuck Mikko!” You groaned feeling his smirk press against your thighs letting your hands pull at his curls.

His free hand was soft against your stomach as he felt you grip his fingers “don’t stop.” You moaned driving your hips against his face as you came letting the pleasure wash over you. Mikko smirked as he began to slow his movements feeling your cunt loosen around his fingers.

Your body shook as his lips left you with a pop. Mikko pushed your chair back as he smiled getting up from the ground “looks like you lost muru.” He clicked his tongue seeing the second present only being tapped up.

It was clear you were trying to still recover as you were too dazed to even care about what he had to say “no.” You whimpered pushing your back against the chair as you tried to hold your ground “why don’t I help you then?” Mikko proposed placing his hand on your shoulder as he wasn’t prepared to leave you down here just yet.

Mikko loved how you were right after an orgasm. The way your lips were plump because you had bitten them trying to suppress your moans. Your eyes were always heavy as he always made sure to put you through the wringer. Usually that was enough for him to do once and then he’d feel content, but tonight Mikko wanted to push you that little bit further as sleep was now nothing more than a distance thought in his mind.

His hand was gentle as he helped you up, giving him just enough space to slip into the seat beneath you. Your head fell against his shoulder as you straddled his leg “let’s do it together muru.” Mikko cooed making you melt against his touch as you nodded.

But as you leaned forward his thigh tensed beneath you resulting in you letting out a moan “fuck!” Your cunt was already wet from your first orgasm of the night quickly coating the skin of his thigh.

Mikko smirked feeling his cock grow hard against his boxers “you giving up on the gifts?” The hockey player teased watching you begin to ride his thigh “nope.” You shook your head letting your tongue dart out of your mouth as you began to focus on the gift in front of you.

This quickly turned into round two of your little bet as Mikko bit his lip writing on the little piece of card as he made little effort to trying to help you. Signing it from the both of you before he moved to the next one. But during the time he did that Mikko didn’t lose sight on the fact that you were enjoying spreading your juices over his thigh “you should see how pretty you look.” Mikko mumbled as he pressed a kiss to your shoulder.

You were in one of his old camp shirts that looked like it was a dress over you “didn’t tell you to slow down.” He nipped at your ear lobe making you shiver.

Mikko watched how your body responded to his cold fingertips grazed over your skin up your shirt “meanie.” You huffed making him laugh as he ghosted over your nipples “promise I’ll make it all worth it soon.” Mikko offered flexing his thigh to make your clit hit it at a different angle.

He couldn’t help but smirk as you gave up on wrapping for a second time as you had finished the second present and rather than moving onto the next one you pushed them all away to the front of you. Finally revealing a clear space on the table “please Mik.” You begged as you felt his fingers roll your nipples between them.

The hockey player groaned as he wished he could see the reactions you had as all he wanted was to finally watch you come. But as Mikko felt his cock hate his boxers for keeping his boner pressed against his skin “gave you your first orgasm princess.” He clicked his tongue squeezing his hands around your breasts “this one is all on you.” His words made you whine as if you had a choice in how the rest of the events tonight were going to go.

This was one of the moments that you were glad you were in a house as it meant you didn’t have to worry about any neighbours hearing the devious acts that you and Mikko were getting up to tonight “want your cock.” You blurted out making the boy wish that he was dreaming as he found himself full of desire to lift you off of his cock and place you on his dick instead.

You fell back against him as you pressed your body against his “be a good girl and maybe I’ll give it to you.” Mikko had to silently praise the gods for making him come downstairs when he woke up “think you could do that f’me?” He asked watching your eyes lock with his.

If the walls could talk they would have brought up how embarrassed they were being forced to see you in your fucked out state when you hadn’t even seen his cock tonight “anything f’you.” You nodded bringing your hands up to cup his as you no longer needed the guidance to drive your clit against his thigh.

It was clear you both oozed desperation as Mikko wanted to bring you to your second orgasm of the night whilst you were trying to do everything to snap the coil your stomach had built up “go make a mess on my thigh baby.” Mikko’s soft voice was a total contrast to how you felt as your body began to shake as you pushed against him rutting your hips against his skin as you felt your eyes begin to struggle to stay open.

The sounds of your moans echoed through the house like a ghost dancing as you whimpered “I’m gonna- fuck!” You cried shaking your head as you gave up not being able to compose yourself anymore as you felt yourself come for the second time tonight. Mikko kissed your cheek as he mumbled soft words of affirmation in Finnish trying to hold himself quiet as he felt his thigh grow wet.

He was sweet in the way that he kissed your shoulder bringing you back to reality as Mikko brushed his fingers through your hair "think you can give me one more muru?" His voice was hushed as he pinched your nipples teasing the peaks as it caused you to jump.

You didn't have the energy to argue as you felt his cock press against your back making you moan as your mouth began to water "gonna let me fuck you with my cock?" He added drawing another moan from your lips as you squirmed.

A needy nod came from you as your head bobbed "sit up on the table then." He ordered as he pushed the chair back giving you space to quickly follow his instructions. It made him smile as watched you spread your legs "give me a kiss pretty girl." Mikko slotted into the space you created where he cupped your cheeks tilting your jaw upwards so that he could kiss you.

In the moment of feeling his tongue slide over your lip you took the moment to run your hands down his bare chest in an effort to bring him some comfort as your fingers danced over the waistband of his boxers. The cold feeling of your fingers made the hockey player jump "naughty, naughty girl." Mikko shook his head as he mirrored your actions with the shirt you were wearing "think it's about time we get you out of this." He mumbled tugging at your shirt as you raised your arms up.

It felt like the world stopped spinning for Mikko in that moment as he watched your naked body sat on the table like it was meant to be served to him on a platter "fuck this will never get old." He confessed making your cheeks turn red as you smiled.

Mikko could see how you stared at the bulge of his cock that could could see on his red boxers "you want my cock?" The Finnish man asked pulling his boxers down to show you how his cock hit his torso making you feel all that more warm as you nodded "I gotta fuck you baby." Mikko groaned as he pumped his cock in his hands a mere three or four times before he drove it's head over your clit.

He watched your jaw go slack as he thrusts his cock into your cunt upon deciding that you were wet enough to take it "still such a needy little girl huh?" Mikko wrapped hands around your waist bringing you closer to him as your legs locked around his hips.

Your face contorted as your eyes screwed shut "wanted your cock all day." It was true after a video came up in your snapchat highlights of Mikko taking you from behind after the Stanley Cup win where you had his winners cap on.

The boy found himself smiling as he pecked your lips "but instead you've been wrapping those fucking presents." He scoffed making your cunt clench around his cock as the walls of your core hugged him "for your family." You shot back shutting yourself off as his cock grazed your g-spot.

There was a mischievous look in his face as he watched your breasts bounce with each thrust that he made grazing your hips with his pelvic bone "you want to be a good girl and get to come or not?" He shot back making you moan "already let you go twice tonight." The hockey player added reminding you of the desperate acts that you had done throughout the night.

You went quiet unintentionally then encouraging Mikko as he dropped his head down to your breast "Mi-" your moan was shortlived as his tongue swirled around your nipple. It made you jump as you whimpered.

His teeth caught your skin making you tug at his curls trying to pull him off of you "relax princess." Mikko grumbled shaking his head as he moved his focus to your other breast not wanting that nipple to get jealous of the first "I can't." You shook your head wanting to give up as the sensitivity from your previous two orgasms brought you to where you were now.

The room felt hot as if the heating was no longer needed, whilst your bodies were burning up against each other "Mik, I'm not gonna last." You shook your head slotting your fingers between your bodies "know you can do it for me." Mikko had never pushed you that far in one night, not even as you celebrated the Stanley Cup win. Part of him didn't know what was going to happen but that seemed to only egg Mikko on more as he slapped your hand away replacing it with his as he used two fingers to swirl around your clit.

Your eyes struggled to stay open as your lips quivered struggling to form a coherent word that was stronger than a sound "c-can't Mikko." You cried out feeling your head begin to grow light as you would have fallen flat on the table.

Mikko smirked as his cock pulsated "gonna make you come sweets." He mumbled hovering his lips over yours as tears formed in your eyes "jesus christ mik." You moaned feeling you body go numb as all of you feeling was directed straight into your cunt as it fluttered around his cock "let it all go f'me princess." With those words came the green light you so desperately needed nodding your head as your mouth formed an o shape.

The feeling that came from your cunt wasn't something that you had ever experienced "shit, shit, shit!" You chanted feeling your eyes roll back into their sockets as your orgasm brought on Mikko's "right there my girl." He grunted beginning to fuck you through it.

Instead, you tried to pull away shaking your head "enough please." You begged as your throat began to feel raw "fuck that was hot." Mikko spoke to himself as he looked at his lower torso to see it glistening from where you had squirted.

He had too admit that he was proud of himself for getting you to that point but as he could see the look of shock on your face Mikko instead went into a comforting mode "you did so good tonight y/n." Mikko spoke seriously as he kissed your head desperate to make you feel the same way he did.

All you found yourself doing was nodding as you tried to get up before you realized that your legs were far too shaky for that to happen "why don't we go have a bath?" Mikko offered quickly picking you up as he brought your head to his chest. A subtle yawn left your lips as you blinked giving him the go-ahead too take you up to let the warm water comfort your skin.

Colorado was quiet as the sunrise was still a few hours away Mikko was sure that you two were apart of the mere few still awake at this time. But as snow fell on the earth outside Mikko had to admit that the time he spent with you tonight was better than any kind sleep he had ever had.

[typical-simplelove]

Summer Baby (M. Rantanen)

Summary: Throughout one summer, you're reminded why you fell in love with Mikko all those years ago.

Author's Note: This is my submission for the 2023 Summer Fic Exchange, put on by @wyattjohnston. This is written for the ever-lovely @buttercupjosh. I truly hope you enjoy this!

Warnings: implied!female reader; LOTS of pining; kind of stupid idiots in love; mentions of alcohol; a few curse words

Word Count: 11.7k

When an internship brought you to Denver, Colorado in the summer of 2016, you never thought you’d fall in love. It was supposed to be ten weeks of learning more about the industry you’re working to get your undergraduate degree in. It was supposed to be ten weeks of exploring Denver during the weeknights and exploring the state's beautiful landscapes on the weekend. You weren’t expecting to fall in love, but then you bumped into him on that one trail on your second weekend in the city and everything changed. 

He wasn’t a native; his accent made that clear. You couldn’t figure out exactly where he was from, but it seemed to be European. It was his second summer in the city, and he chose to stay in the US instead of returning home. Something about training, he said. Turns out that “training” was preparing for the next hockey season. 

Mikko Rantanen, a player for the Colorado Avalanche, stole your heart in ten short weeks, and you never managed to recreate that same love ever again. 

In those ten weeks, you got to know him, and he seemed to insert himself into your life, into the crevices that no one else seemed to seep into. He managed to pull out of you emotions, reactions, secrets, and more that no one else in the world seemed to see. He opened up your walls and gates and managed to make himself a permanent mark in your heart, life, mind, and soul. 

There was no doubt that you were going to fall in love with him, and halfway through the summer, you knew you did. Your heart burst whenever you had dinner with him, hiked one of the local trails, took a trip to some small town a few hours away on the weekends, talked to him, and watched him train on the ice. Every hug, call, smile, word, and touch had you falling in love with Mikko, piece by piece. 

You couldn’t tell if he fell in love with you, but it didn’t matter. You knew that once the internship was over, you’d be heading back to your hometown for a few weeks before moving back to your off-campus apartment. It was never going to work out with Mikko in the long run, so you opted to fall in love with this beautiful, funny, caring, talented, and handsome man who seemed to get you and understand you in a way that no one else on this planet seemed to. 

You fell in love, and that final goodbye at the airport was the worst. He kissed your cheek and held you as tightly as he possibly could. He held your hand tightly all the way through the line to check in, and he held on tightly as you walked to the security line. He wrapped an arm tightly around your waist as you waited to get to that first checkpoint where only ticketed passengers could enter. He kissed your forehead and held you tightly when you were second in line. When it was you next in line, he whispered, “thank you for giving me one of the best summers of my life.” 

That’s when you realized he fell in love with you just as much as you fell in love with him. Your heart broke right there as he let go of you for the last time and exited the line so that you could go through security. The realization that he loved you was lodged deep in your throat as you mindlessly went through security, towards your gate, and onto the plane. You thought of all the things you could have been doing over the past ten weeks if just one of you was strong and brave enough to tell the other your feelings. But then, you thought about it, and you knew that ten weeks (less, really) wouldn’t have ever been enough with Mikko. As much as you wanted to hold him, taste him, feel him, and do so much more than friendship with him, you knew that once you had a taste of Mikko, you’d only want more. You wanted everything with Mikko, so never getting to experience more than friendship with him was a gift because if you had to say goodbye after knowing him more intimately than possible, then you wouldn’t be able to find the courage to keep going. 

Mikko was your greatest love story, and that wasn’t ever going to change, even when you both eventually lost contact due to his hectic travel schedule and your busy schedule with school and work. You didn’t ever forget him. When things got tough, you thought about that one summer with Mikko, all the sunsets and pool days and hikes and shared water bottles.  There wasn’t a day when you didn’t think about him. You wanted to search for him online (you unfollowed him a few months after the conversations stopped), but you knew your heart couldn’t take it. It would have been so easy to Google his name, but it took so long for you to come to terms with the ache in your heart; you couldn’t do that to yourself again. 

Your heart would always ache for Mikko, that wasn’t going to change. 

When you returned to Denver seven years later for relocation for work, the ache in your heart grew. It’s as if your heart and soul knew you were returning to the place where you met Mikko. You weren’t sure if you wanted to see him again. What would it even be like to see Mikko again after seven years? Would your heart still burn for him? Would he still light up the room and the world—your world? Would he still manage to seamlessly seep into your crevices and walls and gates and make you feel safe? 

Did you still love Mikko with your entire heart? 

A few weeks after you moved to Denver and settled into your new apartment, you were off to a friend’s wedding—the first wedding to mark the start of the summer wedding season. Late June weddings were always your favorite (maybe because at that point they were still fun). 

You weren’t sure what to expect as you didn’t know anyone. This was one of the friends you made during that internship all those years ago who you managed to stay in touch with. She was born and raised in Colorado and still lived there, and she was really one of the only people outside of work that you knew (besides Mikko, but did he count?)

As you took a seat at the reception in the middle back of the venue, you took in the beautiful scenery. The heat was starting to get you, so you began to fan yourself with your program. You were looking down at your phone, reading a book, when something deep in your stomach urged you to look up at the group of men walking up the aisle to find a seat together. At first, you were confused because you didn’t recognize them. You almost looked down, but then a familiar mop of hair and shoulders sauntered up the aisle and slipped into the last empty seat in that row. It looked like him, but it had been so long that you couldn’t be sure if it even was him. 

You keep glancing at him, your eyes darting between him and the arch at the head of the aisle. He needed to turn his head to the side, but he kept leaning forward to talk to someone in front of him. You tried to see if you could hear him (you’d recognize his accent and voice anywhere), but it was too loud. 

Thankfully, your stressing over him came to an end when the wedding song began to play and the bridal party began to make their walk down the aisle. Your eyes were trained on the bridesmaids and flower girls when you felt a familiar pair of eyes on the side of your head. The warmth that rose on your face at the feel of his eyes looking at you warmed every blood vessel and nerve in your body. You never knew that you were so cold until his eyes landed on you at exactly that moment. You wanted to look over at him because you knew it was him, but you didn’t know what that would do to your sanity, so your eyes remained trained on the bridal party. 

When the warmth slowly faded from your body, you knew that he looked away and retrained his focus on the wedding party. That’s when you finally looked at him. Of course, it was him. If the warmth that spread through your body was any indication, it was him. Of course, he managed to still elicit this reaction out of you. 

Mikko Rantanen always had a special effect on you that you couldn’t understand. 

You kept wanting to look at him throughout the rest of the ceremony, but you kept your eyes firmly trained at the front of the venue where the ceremony was taking place. From the corner of your eyes, you could see him looking back at you throughout the program. You so desperately wanted to look at him and stare deep into his eyes; however, you knew that the minute you did, you’d become still and your body will light on fire. You wouldn’t be able to function, so you kept your eyes strictly fastened on the bride and groom or down on your lap at the program. 

He was right there, after seven years, and you were without a doubt still hopelessly in love with him. You thought that after all these years his effect on you would have diminished, but it hadn’t. 

As the wedding ceremony ended, you remembered cheering and clapping loudly, but it was all a haze. Mikko was sitting a few rows up, and it took everything in your willpower not to jump over all these people and launch into your arms (that and the fact it would be very embarrassing). 

Slowly, you made your way toward where the cocktail party was taking place. You did your best to blend into the crowd and be as inconspicuous as possible. You wanted to see your friend and her new husband, so you joined in the line to greet them. You prayed to whatever deity existed in the world that Mikko wouldn’t see you and wouldn’t walk up to you. You weren’t sure if you could handle talking to him or seeing his stupidly, beautiful face. 

Thankfully, after glancing behind you briefly, he and his friends were in line and talking amongst themselves. He was nursing a drink and his back was to you. If things went well, then hopefully you’d be able to make it through the night without talking to him or seeing him. As much as you wanted to return to the center of gravity in the world (him), you worked so hard to heal your heart and soul after having to leave him. 

By the time you reached the bride and groom, you were mostly out of your head in stress, anxiety, and overthinking. You hugged her tightly and congratulated her before heading over to the bar and getting a drink. With a drink in hand, you entered the reception area and found your table. You took longer than normal to find your place card because you wanted to see where Mikko was sitting. Thankfully, he wasn’t at your table, and he was at table 11 while you were at 15. Hopefully, that means he’s quite a ways away from you. 

You took a seat and introduced yourself to everyone else sitting at your table. As the guests lingered inside, you managed to strike up a conversation with a few of the bride and groom’s coworkers. If this kept up, then you’d be able to make it through the night. 

It was forty or so minutes into the reception when you felt that same warmth. This time, it spread from your back to your front. It took you a few moments to collect yourself. You wanted to turn around, but from the sounds of it, the people behind you were chatting away and hadn’t sat down. If he was standing right there, then you couldn’t turn around to look at him. You weren’t ready for that. 

He was laughing and talking with someone, and just hearing his velvety voice was enough to send your heart into overdrive. Mikko was right there (right behind you!), and you were just about to die from your heart beating too fast and overheating. 

You’re saved, though, by the DJ announcing the entrance of the bride and groom, and you heard the chairs against the marble floor of the people behind you. As much as you wanted to look at him behind you, the way the bride and groom were entering was facing you perfectly, so that meant that if you turned around, you’d see Mikko perfectly and he’d see you perfectly, too. 

Someone has to give your willpower a raise because it’s working overtime right now to keep you from turning to look Mikko in the eyes for the first time in seven years because it knows the minute you do, you will be captivated and hypnotized by him, erasing all the work it took for you to continue on with your life. 

The rest of the evening carried on, with speeches, dinner, the first/final dances, and the eventual migration of everyone to the dance floor. From the sounds of it, Mikko and his table were on the dance floor, so you felt it was safe to turn and watch. As you suspected, he was right there. You couldn’t help but break out into a wide smile as you watched him dance with the flower girl and twirl her around. He was so vibrant and happy. That’s why you fell in love with him, you remind yourself. He always lit up a room and a life, and right now, he was lighting up the life of that little girl. 

You needed a drink, fast, to manage the emotions you felt, so you walked over to the bar, not even thinking that you had to walk right past Mikko. As you were maneuvering through the drunk dancers, you had to slow down, and you heard him call your name. It was loud in the ballroom, but you could hear him perfectly. It sent a wave of ice through your bones before a warm sigh settled. The line at the bar was long, and you could hear him catching up to you, so you took a detour to the washroom. 

Just as you opened the door to the washroom, you felt a few fingers on your arm, beckoning you to turn around, but you walked into the washroom, shutting the door as fast as you can. As you looked at yourself in the mirror, you were so clearly flushed and overwhelmed. Your body was radiating heat like wildfires; you were afraid the heat would melt the ornate decorations in the washroom.

Wanting to calm yourself down, you washed your hands in cold water. You didn’t know how long you were going to wait in that washroom. How long would he wait for you? Thankfully, though, there were some couches, so you took a seat and scrolled through the phone you remembered to grab. 

Five minutes went by, and you wondered if Mikko was still out there. You wanted to go back to enjoy the wedding, but you couldn’t in good faith run into Mikko. Just as you were ready to leave the washroom, a woman walks in. 

“Excuse me,” you interrupt. She looks at you, slightly startled. “Would you mind telling me if there are any men waiting outside the bathroom?”

“Are you in trouble?” she ardently asks, worried. 

Shaking your head, you reply, “I just don’t want to run into an ex.” That was kind of the truth, right? 

“Just my husband, I believe, but I wasn’t looking at hard,” she replies. You thank her before she walks into a stall. Taking a deep breath, you walk out of the washroom, your hand still firmly on the handle just in case Mikko is out there, and you need a quick escape. 

He isn’t, just that woman’s husband, so you make your way down the corridor. Just as you’re about to think you’re in the clear, a clear, Finnish-accented voice called your name. On instinct, you turned around and tried to make your way back to the washroom, but his hand lightly grasped your wrist. It wasn’t too tight. You could have easily slipped your hand out and walked away, and your heart gleamed at the thought that Mikko gave you an easy and quick escape if you weren’t comfortable. 

“Please,” he whispered, taking a step closer to you. The familiar notes to a slow song echoed through the ballroom. “Dance with me?”

You nodded. “Let me just put my phone down on my table.”

“No,” Mikko says, taking your phone out of your hand and slipping it into his pocket. He guided you toward the dance floor, and you bet your entire life savings on him muttering, “I’m not letting you go again.” 

At the dance floor, Mikko guided you into a slow sway with one hand on your waist—his thumb stroking small circles on the thin fabric of your back—and another gripping your hand, holding it close to his heart. He was looking down at you, but you were looking at everything except for him. You felt his eyes on you as you mimicked a middle schooler who was too afraid to stare at their crush during the slow song. 

“I didn’t know you were going to be in town,” he whispers, his mouth close to your ear. 

“Yeah, I moved here a few weeks ago,” you tell him, softly, angling your head towards his, slowly. You closed your eyes, not ready to look at him yet. Mikko moves his head, slightly, so his cheek is resting against yours. You both dance like that for a few beats before Mikko slips his hand out of yours and wraps it around your waist and pulls you flush against his body. On instinct, your hand joins your other around his neck, and you pull him close to you. 

You. Love. Him. So. Much. 

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he whispers, his breath tickling you and the vibrations ricocheting off his chest to yours. “That you moved here?”

“I didn’t know if you wanted to hear from me,” you reply, your thumbs playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. 

Mikko moves his head back so quickly that it feels violent. You know he’s looking at you, trying to search your face, but you’ve angled your face away from him, staring off at someone or something else—anything that’s not him. He shifts his head so it's right in front of your line of sight, but you’re quick to look away. That game continues a few times before Mikko sighs and rests his hand beneath your chin, angling his head towards yours. Again, his touch is soft, so you can quickly pull away. 

Your fact is angled in a way that he can look you directly in your eyes, but you close them, not ready to look at him. 

“Why won’t you look at me?” he asks, his voice strained and hurt. 

“I can’t let my heart break again,” you reply, putting all your force into keeping your eyes again. 

Mikko’s grip on your waist tightens as he says, “please look at me. Please.”

That second please is what gets you, so you open your eyes. Your eyes are met with his piercing blue ones, and your breathing and heart rate dramatically increase. 

“Mikko—”

You’re not sure what you’re trying to say or what you want to say, but you’re just looking at him. He’s blinking fast, and you know that’s his tell that he’s nervous and scared. He takes his hands off your chin and briefly brushes some of your hair to the side before his hand returns to your waist. You do the same, brushing some of his curls further up his forehead, before leaning closer. You wanted to feel his heat and warmth. You never wanted this cocoon he wrapped you in to end. 

“You gave me one of the best summers of my life,” he says out of nowhere. “Of course I’d want you to call.” His voice is low, quiet, rough, and dangerous. You know that if you kissed him right now, he’d kiss you back, but can you do it? Can you let yourself fall into him again knowing how long it took you to fall out of him again? Would the cages and locks and chains on your heart open up again, even though it’s Mikko? 

His eyes flicker down to your lips before he stares intently into your eyes again before leaning closer. You’re going to let him kiss you, but thankfully, you’re saved when the DJ says the groom wants to make a small speech. You pull back, and your hands go from around his neck to sliding over his shoulders, down his chest, where they rest on the shirt covering his upper chest. 

When the groom starts to talk, you take your hands off him and slowly slip from his hold on you. You slowly reach into his pants pocket and pull out your phone. Mikko’s fingers are lingering on your skin as you look up at him one more time before you slip out of his orbit entirely and back to your table. You grab your clutch and wrap before making your way out of the ballroom and towards your car. 

You once let yourself fall into Mikko’s orbit and gravity, and it was one of the best experiences of your life, but it hurt when that orbit and gravity floated away. 

You loved him still without a doubt, but would your heart let you open back up and slip back into his orbit? 

Mikko was already back in your orbit if tonight was any indication, but could you let yourself fall back into his? 

It was a few weeks after the wedding, and you were still reeling from seeing Mikko. You tried your best to forget about him and the feel of his arms wrapped around you, but you couldn’t. When you went to bed each night, you fell asleep, dreaming about his warm body from that one dance at the wedding, and you woke up each morning, sad that your bed was cold because his large, warm body wasn’t right next to yours. 

Did you make the right decision to leave? Should you have stayed and talked to him? What more was there to say? (So much more, actually). 

Ultimately, though, you weren’t ready to delve into all those emotions with Mikko when you weren’t even sure what you were feeling. Mikko was going to kiss you; it was without a doubt, and you were going to let him. Once he kissed you, though, what came next? For you, that kiss should be the start of something with him. It should be a healing of the ache over the past seven years, and it should tie a bow to the story from seven years ago and start the sequel right now. But you weren’t sure what Mikko wanted.  Was it just going to be a kiss because he had someone pretty in his arms? Was it going to mean as much to him as it did to you?

All this overthinking made you realize that maybe it was better that you didn’t kiss him and left. Until you could exactly articulate in words, out loud what you wanted from Mikko, you shouldn’t make any contact with him. It was already so hard to even see him, so going in confused and unsure wasn’t going to solve anything.

That seemed mature, right? 

Or were you just running away because you were scared? 

One night, you were laying on your couch, one of your favorite sitcoms playing in the background, as you were scrolling through Instagram. You swiped to check a message that one of your friends sent you in response to something you posted on your story. The little (1) next to the requests tab surprised you, so you clicked on the tab and threw your phone across the room when you saw who it was. 

Of course, Mikko was acting maturely and reached out to you. 

After taking several deep breaths, you got up to retrieve your phone and opened Mikko’s message. From the looks of it, he messaged you a few days after the wedding. He wrote: 

Hey. It was really great to see you, and I’d love to see you again to catch up. I have a day off on Saturday and planning on walking and hiking at Cherry Creek Trail. Feel free to join me. I’ll meet you at ten? I’ll wait for you for half an hour. See you soon, hopefully! 

He wanted to see you, and he wanted to do it at one of your favorite hiking locations, and he sent this to you three weeks ago. You can’t imagine the emotions he must have been going through to both send this message and wait those three days for Saturday to come. Then, the emotions during that half-hour, waiting for you, and then his heart shattering when you didn’t show up.

You had to text him back. What would you say? How do you apologize to a man who has been nothing but amazing and understanding to you?  

After typing, deleting, and overanalyzing your message, you finally sent: 

Hey. It was great to see you, too, and I’m sorry that I didn’t see this until now. Your message wasn’t on my main screen, so I didn’t see it. If it makes you feel better, I would have been at the Trail. If you’re free, I’d like to have a raincheck. Let me know! 

Once you sent it, you turned off your phone and went to bed. You didn’t know if he was going to make you wait a few weeks like you did. You went to bed that night fearful and excited. You were scared he was going to turn you down, but you were so excited about what could happen. 

Turns out, he didn’t make you wait a few weeks. When you turned on your phone the next morning, Mikko responded only a few minutes after you sent your message. 

Does this Sunday at 10 work? 

After staring at the message for a few moments, you replied, confirming the time worked, and got ready to go to work. 

Sunday was only three days away, and if he still hiked and walked like he did seven years ago, then you know your heart was going to go into overdrive.

By the time Sunday rolled around, you parked your car outside the Trail at 9:30 and got out to sit on a bench. You wanted to wait in your car, but you wanted to make up for a few weeks ago when you completely missed Mikko. By the time you sat down, you could see Mikko’s figure jogging over to you from the corner of your eye. 

“Hey,” he says, taking a seat next to you. He was in sunglasses, a white T-shirt (you were totally acting normally about this), and black shorts that really only covered his ass. He hands you a bottle of water and says, “this is for you.”

You hold up your own bottle. “I have one.” 

“Yeah, but I know you don’t use electrolytes in your water as I recommend,” he replies, a smirk on his face. “I’ll even hold it for you.”  

“If you insist,” you tease, shocked that you actually have the power to tease him right now. Your entire body was in overdrive because Mikko looked stupidly handsome right now. Would there ever be a time when he didn’t? 

Mikko holds the two bottles in one hand and extends the other to you to take. With a deep breath, you put your hand in his and grasp it tightly. You let yourself soak in the feel of his large hand wrapped around your hand. You can’t look into Mikko’s eyes because you know you’ll see an emotion you’re not ready to address. 

“Ready to go?” Mikko asks, breathlessly, as if the hike was finished and not in its current state of not even being started. 

“Yeah,” you murmur, taking your hand out of Mikko’s. You still feel the ghost of his hand in yours. 

The first half-hour of the walk is awkward as both of you can’t find the right words to say. What would you even talk about? Do you address the elephant in the room? Do you pretend you haven’t talked to him in seven years? It used to be so easy talking to him, and now, it’s as if it’s a blind date. You wanted to get back to that point with Mikko, but would you ever be able to? 

Thankfully, Mikko breaks the silence first. “It was really nice seeing you at the wedding.” 

“Even though I left immediately after we danced?” you ask, putting out a laugh in an attempt at a joke. 

“I’d rather you ran away from me than me not seeing you at all,” Mikko says, dead serious, his eyes locked on your walking frame. You look at him, and the intensity of his look on you is enough to make you trip and lose your balance. In true Mikko fashion, he wraps an arm around you in time to help catch you before you fall. Your breathing rate picks up as he keeps his arm wrapped around your waist as you both continue to walk. Mikko must think it’s because you’re dehydrated, so he hands you the water bottle (already opened) he brought for you. 

“Thank you,” you murmur, before taking a sip. 

“Anyway,” he says, clearly as off-kilter as you are. “Tell me what brings you back to Denver.” 

So you told him, and that opened up the floodgates of conversation between you and Mikko that you remembered. You told him all about finishing school, work these past few years, your family, and your life, and he tells you about the hockey season, winning the Stanley Cup, and the recent disappointment in the post-season. You both noticeably leave out any mentions of romantic partners. 

In your defense, though, you’re not sure if you’re ready to say that the reason you haven’t been in a true relationship in the past seven years is that you’ve been trying to find someone who made you feel the same way that Mikko made you feel. 

When you’ve come up to a peak on the trail, you and Mikko stop and take in the sights. Seeing a big boulder, Mikko pulls you over to sit. He sits first and pats the empty side of the boulder for you to fit. Taking a deep breath, you sit next to him—your entire right side is up against and aligned with Mikko’s left side. The feel of his sweaty arms should repulse you, but he smells amazing. You always knew he smelled amazing, but sweaty, Mikko smells like a Greek god. 

Just the feel of Mikko up against you makes you wobbly, and you almost fall off the side of the boulder. Mikko wraps an arm around you and holds you tightly against him so that you don’t fall again. You both sit there, breathing in sync, as you stare out at the sight before you. 

“Did you miss me as much as I missed you?” Mikko asks, not looking at you. 

“How much did you miss me?” you reply, meekly. 

“I missed you so much that I could barely breath,” he confesses. “My entire heart has ached for you over these past seven years, and not a day went by where I didn’t think about you.” 

You blink a few times before turning your head to look at him to find him already looking at you. “I definitely missed you as much as you missed me.” 

He smiles his smile, and it’s enough to almost make you fall backward, but Mikko’s arm tightens around you, almost knowing the influence he has on you.  You lean into his side, content with the feel of your body against his and just his body overall.

“We could have been doing this for years,” you whisper, not sure if you want Mikko to hear you. 

“Then let’s make up for it now,” he replies, placing a soft kiss on the top of your head. His hand around your waist is stroking soft patterns on your left side as you let yourself sink into Mikko’s hold. He has a way of making you feel safe and comfortable and loved. 

If this hike has shown you anything, it’s that Mikko was your future. His gravitational pull was always going to pull you in and keep you close and secure no matter what. You loved him with your entire soul and being, and maybe one day, you’d be ready to tell him. 

“Ready to go back down?” Mikko asks, his breath tickling your forehead. 

“Yeah,” you say, reluctantly, and get up. When was the next time you were going to be this close to him? 

Once Mikko gets up, he peels off his shirt, and your mouth goes agape at the sight of his chest. His chest was magnificent when he was just twenty, but now, it looks like it’s been sculpted by the heavens. How could someone’s chest be that beautiful? You knew he was going to take off his shirt when he got too sweaty, and you thought you had prepared yourself for it, but you never suspected that he would grow into himself so handsomely. 

Mikko smirks at you, knowing exactly what he was doing. He needed all the extra points from you if he was going to convince you he was enough to spend the rest of your life with. 

“I’m going to start,” he says, turning around. “Catch up when you’ve caught your breath.” 

When he turned and revealed his back to you, your knees wobbled. This man was going to be the actual death of you. 

Mikko had opted not to return to Finland for the summer to try to work on his training in Denver, so he proudly said that he was all yours for the summer. You weren’t sure if you wanted all this undivided Mikko attention, but then when he texted you on a random Wednesday asking if you wanted to meet him for lunch during your lunch break, you realized it was a good thing, all this attention. 

He met you at a restaurant down the street from you and was waiting outside for you. When you walked up to him, he opened his arms and pulled you in for a hug. You breathed in his scent and realized that he hasn’t changed his cologne in all these years. The fact that it hasn’t changed somehow made your throat tighten up. It took everything in you not to cry. He was still the Mikko you loved seven years ago. 

“Ready?” he asks, a smile wide on his face as he linked in hand to yours. You nodded and allowed him to lead you inside the restaurant. 

Once seated, you and Mikko didn’t say anything as you both peered over the menu, but every now and then, you both would look up at the same and catch each other’s eyes before guiltily looking back at the menu, your faces warm with embarrassment. Finally, though, you decided what you wanted to order, so you closed your menu and decided to observe him as he poured over the menu. He was wearing a white button-down shirt that was tight in all the right places. He had a few of his top buttons undone, giving you a sneak peek at that perfect chest. When he thinks, he always sticks out his tongue, slightly, and he was doing just that. You wanted nothing more than to reach across the table and taste him. How was it possible someone was so pretty? 

“Take a picture; it’ll last longer,” he teases, not looking up from his menu. 

“Great idea,” you reply, pulling out your phone and taking a perfect picture of him. If he put on a pair of dark glasses, then he could look like a handsome college professor. 

Mikko just shakes his head and laughs softly. “What am I going to do with you?” 

“Buy me lunch?” you suggest, playfully. 

“Always was the plan,” he answers, closing his menu. He opens his mouth to say something, but the waiter comes over to take your order. From the corner of your eye, you watch him deflate a little at not being able to say what he wanted to say. You wonder what he was going to say to you. 

After the waiter walks away, Mikko pulls in his chair to get a smidge closer to you. In the process of doing so, he manages to knock his legs with yours, but you don’t jump or move at the touch. Instead, you let his lower legs rest against yours as he sits. You and Mikko always were heavy on the physical touch. 

“Tell me about your current project at work,” Mikko says. As you explain to him about your current work project, he can’t help but love the way you get animated about work and talk with your hands. The features on your face are lit up by both your emotions and the lighting in the restaurant. And when you lean forward to talk to him as if you’re telling him a secret, Mikko is pretty sure that you can hear his heartbeat—it’s racing. He leans forward, too, creating a cone of isolation from the rest of the restaurant as he listens to you talk. You always could captivate him more than anyone else in the world could. 

It’s no wonder he fell in love with you all those years ago and never fell out of love. 

You’re so close to him that he could kiss you. He’s still listening, but he’s also thinking about how much he wants to kiss you. He could just lean forward an inch or two and rest his lips on yours. He could finally settle the question about what you taste like, and he can finally convey to you how he feels. 

He never was good at words, especially when it came to English, but with you, it was even harder. He had all these things he wanted to say, both in English and Finnish, but he could never get them out. His mother suggested writing them out and giving you a letter, but where would he start? Would he start with how you were his entire world? Would he continue with how your magnetic force always pulled him in regardless of how far away you were?  Would he mention that he’d give up everything to be by your side forever? Will he write about how he wanted to take you home with him to Finland and recreate all his memories there with you because he wanted everything with you? 

There were so many things he wanted to say to you, but he never had the courage to do so. 

You were still talking, and he desperately wanted to kiss you, and he was going to. He was really, really close to your lips, but then the fucking waiter shows up and ruins the moment again. 

You both pull away, and you clear your throat to clear your head from how you were pretty sure Mikko was going to kiss you. 

As you both start to eat, it’s difficult to get back into that cone of isolation that you were both in, but you’re still drawn to him like opposite sides of a magnet. 

The rest of lunch goes normally as you both catch up more and talk. Still, you're yearning for that cocoon of isolation and intimacy from before. You know you've always had Mikko's undivided attention, but the way it was a few minutes ago made your heart burst. He paid attention only to you, and he wanted to make sure that you knew that. 

The only comfort from leaving that cone was the fact that Mikko's leg was still resting against yours. That warmth was enough to keep a smile on your face. That's why I loved him, you remind yourself. He always knew what to do to keep you smiling. 

At the end of lunch and a brief argument over who's paying the bill (Mikko won), he's walking you back to your building. 

"Hey, when you have a free weekend, do you want to drive out to Aspen?" he suggests. "We can go hiking or just hang around the downtown area. We could rent a small cabin and just hang out." 

"That sounds perfect," you reply. "I'll call you one day this week, and we can plan it?" 

"Yeah," he replies, a wide smile on his face. 

When you got back to your building, Mikko kissed your cheek and whispered goodbye before he stepped away and watched you walk back into the building. 

You were going to be the end of him. 

After planning and discussing and filing for PTO, you and Mikko were off to Aspen for a four-day weekend late on a Thursday night. You managed to get Friday and Monday off, so you and Mikko were going to spend four days hanging out and relaxing in the Aspen mountains. As you were packing, you couldn’t help but wonder what this weekend was going to do for your emotions and feelings for him. Often rather than not, you spent your free time with him, taking walks around the city, going for hikes, having movie nights, or going out for dinner and/or drinks. None of that was helping. Four days in the mountains with Mikko? Your heart was going to be working in overdrive. 

It was roughly one hour into the drive when your GPS alerted you that there was a slow down up ahead, causing delays of up to sixty to ninety minutes. As Mikko’s car came to a standstill and the automatic shut-off came on, you and Mikko glanced at each other and laughed. You thought that leaving on a Thursday night after work would allow you to miss any traffic, but clearly, that wasn’t the case. 

“Good thing we have snacks,” you mention, reaching into the back seat to grab the cooler of snacks you packed. 

“Hopefully, we make it before the office that’s holding our keys closes,” Mikko muses when you hand him a bottle of water. 

The office closed at nine. There was going to be a chance that you and Mikko wouldn’t make it in time. As if sensing your anxiety, Mikko takes your hand in his and says, “don’t worry. We’ll figure it out.” 

His warm and large hand in yours was all you needed to calm you down. It always was your cure for any bouts of anxiety you’d feel. 

For about half an hour, no one in traffic was moving. Everyone was still at a standstill, and as the night sky turned into a golden haze of sunset, there was no doubt in your or Mikko’s minds that you weren’t going to make it in time.

“It looks like everyone’s turning off their cars to conserve gas,” you say, noticing the lights of many cars turning off. “Thankfully, it’s not too hot.”

“Yeah,” Mikko responds, turning off his car right after opening some windows for a breeze. “This wasn’t how I thought this weekend would go.” 

“We’ll still find a way to make it fun.” 

Mikko looks over at you with a soft smile on his face. Your heart nearly stopped at seeing him looking at you with all the love in his eyes. His stupid, beautiful face was looking at you as if you were the queen of the world. He was looking at you as if he wanted to devour you and longingly love you for the rest of his life. And with the sun setting behind him and all the colors creating a beautiful backdrop, your entire body warmed and clenched at the idea that you got so lucky as to know him and his stupidly, beautiful features. How did you get so lucky not only to meet him but have him as a friend and fall in love with him? 

Well, falling in love with Mikko wasn’t luck. Mikko was easy to fall in love with. It took no effort. With one look, it was fated that your heart would always be his. Even if you went to the far ends of the universe and saw and met some of the most beautiful and amazing people in the universe, your heart would always beat and return to Mikko. That was the hold he had on you.

Your heart and soul were always his. That’s what was written in the stars at their first moment of creation. 

“Are you okay?” Mikko whispers, not wanting to disrupt you. He could tell you were deep in your thoughts, but you were staring and observing him, so he wanted to know what you were thinking. His head was blocking any of the sunlight from reaching your face. His dark shadow was on your face, causing a cascade of light to halo around your form. You were sitting there, in his car, like a dream. 

There were so many times over the past seven years when he’d get in the car and look over and hope and beg the universe that you would be sitting there next to him. He wanted to drive you around and show you off, and he wanted you to be right there next to him for all of his adventures in life, and he wanted to be right there next to you in all your adventures in life. 

You were sitting there, looking so stunning and a replica of his dreams, and the sun was shining around you, enshrining you in a halo, looking like someone sent from up above. 

You are the love of Mikko’s life, and his heart aches to know you’re right there but also so far out of reach. 

“Yeah, I’m okay,” you say, your voice sounding dry and hoarse. “You just look really fucking beautiful with the way the sun is shining around you.” 

“I could say the same thing about you,” he replies. He tries feeling around his (super short, in your opinion) shorts pockets to find his phone, but he can’t, so he reaches across your lap for your phone to take a picture of you. He readjusts his head so that he can illuminate you in that same glow before he snaps a few photos of you. You give him a soft smile for the pictures, and he knows right then and there that every centimeter of his heart is yours. All the blood that courses through his veins and heart, all the nerve endings throughout his body, and all his bodily metabolic processes are yours. His body beats and moves and functions and acts for you. It’s always been for you. 

“Please send it to me,” Mikko requests, his throat suddenly dry. 

“Of course,” you reply, swiping through the photos before you pick your favorite to send to him. 

“All of them,” he growls. 

You look at him and give him a funny look. “But some of them I don’t look good in.” 

“That’s your opinion, not mine. I want them all. Please.”  

You scrunch your eyebrows and forehead in laughter and send them all to him. Once you do, you begin, “Your turn for photos, Mr. Always-Beautiful Man.” 

His heart sings for your praise and words of calling him beautiful. That was the highest compliment anyone has ever given him. All of his hockey awards and praises combined do not compare to you complimenting him in any shape or form. 

You turn in your seat to get a better angle of Mikko. Not satisfied, you place your phone on the center console before you reach over to place your hands on his face to readjust the angle and shape of his face. You brush your hands over the hair on his forehead before softly stroking his cheekbones and settling back in your seat. 

Yes, Mikko’s heart is beating so fast that the force could launch his heart through his sternum into your lap. 

As you’re snapping photos, Mikko hopes that you can’t tell how much he loves you. Is it possible to see, in his eyes, that he wants you in every single possible way but he’ll wait until you say the word? With one word, you could build up his world and universes, and with one word, you could make him yours. Then again, he always was at your will, and that truly never will change. He was fully yours seven years ago, and now, he’s completely yours, just heightened. 

“I hate how photogenic you are,” you comment, swiping through the photos, taking Mikko out of his thoughts. “It’s not fair.” 

“Sorry,” Mikko says, looking at his phone and setting one of the photos of you as his home screen. 

“Sure you are,” you reply, turning to face the front of the car and rolling your eyes as you begin to munch on a snack. 

He really wasn’t. He wasn’t going to apologize for captivating you with his looks when you do the same every damn time he looks at you. 

Five hours later, well after the 9 pm deadline to pick up the keys, and close to midnight, you and Mikko reached the rental cabin in Aspen. You called ahead, trying to see if they would leave your keys under the welcome mat, but they replied, saying it wasn’t safe. 

“Should we find a motel?” you suggest, sitting in the car trying to figure out what to do. 

“We could always just sleep in the car,” Mikko counters. “I’m not sure if there will be any rooms open.” 

“So, we just roll back the seats and sleep?”

“Yeah,” he replies, getting out of the car to find his pajamas in his overnight bag in the trunk. You quickly follow and do the same. “You can change in the car, and I’ll change out here.”

“Okay,” you reply, breathlessly. You were going to be changing into pajamas with Mikko just a few feet away from you. You’ve done that before, but normally, there are walls blocking his view, but this time, he can look right through the windows and watch you. Did you want him to watch you and see parts of your body he’s never seen before? Just the idea of him getting to see more of you sets your body on fire. 

When you’ve pulled out your pajamas and sweatshirt, you move to the driver’s seat, knowing he has more legroom because he’s taller. You close the door but don’t start changing. You can see, through the driver’s side mirror, Mikko has pulled his shirt over his head and is folding it up before putting on his pajama shirt. Oh, that back. Yeah, you’re waiting until he’s done changing before you do anything. When he pulls down his shorts and is standing there in only a sweatshirt and boxers, your heart begins palpitating. You knew he had massive thighs and ass that can win a competition but in only boxers? It was no wonder your brain was malfunctioning. This man was beautiful and handsome in every single possible way.  

This kind, compassionate, caring, talented man had a body that can win first place in any beauty competition. It wasn’t fair that he was the most amazing person you’ve ever met and ridiculously, stupidly, handsome. 

Of course, you fell for him. 

When he was done changing, he looked over his shoulder to see if you were done changing, and you were quick to turn your eyes away from the mirror. It was dark, so he probably couldn’t see that you were staring at him as he changed (like a stalker), but still. 

As you began to change, Mikko turned his back to you and waited until you opened the car door to signal you were done. It took everything in his willpower not to turn and see you change. What would it do to him to see even more of you? He knew you inside and out, and he knew everything there was to know about you, and he loved it all. To see more parts of you that you’ve never shown him? His entire body would fall in on itself. 

He’s twiddling with his thumbs when the horn of the car makes him jump. He turns his head to see what the matter is. When he sees your bare shoulder, he knows it was an accident, but he’s frozen in place. All he’s getting is your bare shoulders and an inch of your upper back, but it’s enough to put his entire body in a haze. He never knew shoulders could be so perfect, but yours were incredibly fucking perfect. He wanted to rest his hands on your shoulders in support, he wanted to kiss your shoulders as he held you against his body during movie nights, and he wanted to brush away hair from your shoulders and back as he helped you put on a necklace. 

Mikko quickly looks away, but he knows that during this weekend, he’s going to fall more and more in love with you. 

When you get out of the car after changing, you and Mikko are both warm and exhilarated from seeing bits of the other changing that you both get ready to sleep in silence. The only sounds are the crickets outside and you and Mikko lowering the seats. When you both lay down, you finally look over at Mikko to find him already looking at you. The moon was illuminating his skin and figure perfectly; it made you burst with love. 

“Goodnight,” you whisper.

“Goodnight,” he murmurs in reply. My love

You’re quick to get into a comfortable position; however, a chill racks through your body, so you scrunch into a ball to make you warm. 

“Cold?” Mikko asks. You can hear the concern in his voice. 

“A little,” you lie, not wanting to make him worry. 

“Come over here,” he suggests, opening up his arms for you. He takes the sweatshirt he was going to use as a pillow and dangles it as a reward. 

Slowly, you maneuver yourself over the center console and onto Mikko’s seat. It’s not big, so you’re entirely wedged up against him. You take the sweatshirt from him and put it on; you let the warmth engulf you. You knew that Mikko was kind and caring, but to provide you with everything you needed at that moment was a new level of kindness and heart to Mikko you never knew possible. 

He pulls you flush against him and wraps an arm around you. You wrap your arms comfortably against your chest and let yourself soak in his warmth. 

“Are your hands still cold? Your legs?” he asks. 

You nod, letting your forehead fall to the space between his collarbones. In one swift motion, Mikko wraps a leg around your legs, letting the warmth from his sweatpants-clothed leg send warm sensations through your body, and takes your arms and moves them beneath his sweatshirt, allowing his sturdy chest to warm you. 

“Thank you,” you murmur, feeling the sleep induced by his warmth coming. 

“Whatever you need,” he replied, resting an arm tightly around your waist. “I’ll give you whatever you need.” 

You’re half asleep when you hear the last sentence, but it warms you nonetheless. Here was this man who was willing to give you the shirt off his back. How were you ever supposed to love another man when Mikko set the standard? 

Since the Aspen trip, the rest of the summer went by in a haze. The remaining weeks were spent hanging out in Mikko's backyard, picnics in local parks, movie nights on your couch, and dinners in the local restaurants. Before you knew it, training camp was around the corner, and more of Mikko's time was spent in the gym, getting ready for the upcoming season. While it hurt to spend less time with him, you understood, and this time around, you went and watched him on the ice. You knew Mikko was an excellent hockey player, but you never once watched him in person. It was so enchanting watching him set up plays and glide across the ice. Who knew the love of your life was so incredibly talented? 

The weekend before training camp started, Mikko planned on hosting a barbecue to welcome the team and their families back to Denver. He invited you. At first, you were going to say no because you didn't feel like you belonged at the event, but you knew that Mikko would pout and sulk until you said yes. You didn't want him to know the kind of power he held over you. 

The day before the barbecue, Mikko called you frantically. He had no idea what he was doing and asked you to come over early to help. 

"What makes you think that I know anything about hosting?" you asked, taking a little jubilation at knowing there was something that Mikko wasn't good at (because he seemed good at everything!). 

"I don't. I just know you calm me down." 

Well, then. 

You showed up the next day, a bag of groceries in hand, ready to help Mikko host. You weren’t quite sure how you were going to help him in any way he asked (you’d do this, even if he wasn’t in a crisis). 

Carefully, you used the spare key he gave you and unlocked his house. You didn’t want to scare him, so when you entered and took off your shoes, you announced your presence quietly. He wasn’t in the kitchen, you noticed, so you placed the groceries you purchased in the fridge. Upon further listening, you could hear him singing along to a song in the washroom. He must be cleaning it. 

“Hey,” you said, poking your head into the bathroom. He was playing his music, loudly, as he scrubbed the toilet. 

“Hey,” he replied, looking at you, a smile wide on his face. “When did you get here?”

“Maybe five minutes ago. I bought you potato salad and hotdog and hamburger buns.”

“You’re the best,” Mikko replies, giving you a sweaty hug. “I’m almost done here, and then we can start preparing the food.” 

As he finished cleaning the rest of the washroom, you leaned against the door frame, watching him and talking to him. You tried your hardest to listen to what he was saying, but your eyes couldn’t help but drift to his arms as they flexed as he scrubbed the toilet. You knew he had large and attractive arms, but you weren’t ever aware he had such attractive veins. Finally, you understood what your nursing friends meant when they called veins “delicious.” All you wanted to do was run your fingers along his veins. 

When he finished, you followed him to his kitchen where he washed his hands and discussed with you what the plan for preparing was. The event was a potluck event with individual families bringing sides while Mikko supplied the grilled foods. 

“We’ll start with the grilling once people start to arrive,” he tells you, looking through the fridge.

“What did you pick up?”

“Hotdogs, hamburgers, turkey hotdogs, some bean hamburger that someone requested, corn, and zucchini,” he lists off. 

“So, should we just put out drinks and cutlery and set things up for people to get drinks and snacks?”

Mikko nods his head, his heart warming at the idea that he was hosting a barbecue with you. It was the domesticity of it all that was setting his heart aflame. 

By the time you and Mikko had set out snacks and drinks with small paper plates and napkins, the doorbell rang, alerting that the first couple of people had arrived. Mikko opened the door and welcomed guests while you opened up the sliding door towards the backyard to facilitate easy movement from the backyard to the inside of the house. 

The next hour passed as more guests arrived. Mikko fired up the grill while you helped in the kitchen, topping off drinks and organizing the dishes people brought. You didn’t get a chance to see Mikko or hang around him, but every now and then, you’d get a look at him, outside grilling, and your heart would pick up seeing how happy and in his element he looked. It also didn’t help that the sun was hitting his skin perfectly. 

A few times, Mikko would search through the crowd, looking for you, whether you were inside or in the backyard. He’d catch your eye and smile widely at you. Sometimes, he’d wink at you before giving you his signature grin. Some of the spouses around you picked up what Mikko was doing and made sure to tease you every time he did. 

They were convinced that he had feelings for you, but you kept denying it. Sure, maybe seven years ago he did, but you really weren’t sure where he was on the feelings-for-you spectrum right now. He was your best friend, that’s all. 

When he called out that the grilled foods were ready, a buffet line started with people starting at the grill, getting their choice of food before going inside for sides and topping off their drinks. Mikko stayed at the grill to help serve while you went inside to facilitate easy movement around the kitchen island and helped top off drinks. By the time the last people had gotten their food and were seated at the tables and chairs outside, you were about to make your way to the grill to start your own plate, but Mikko walked in first, holding two plates. He handed one to you and said, 

“I got you your favorites.”

Taking the plate out of his hands, your fingers lightly brushed his as you thanked him. He placed his empty hand on the small of your bag and guided you into the kitchen to fill your plates on the sides. 

When you and Mikko got outside, you started to walk toward one end of the table with some of the people you’d been talking to throughout the day, but Mikko had other plans. 

“Nope,” he said, a hint of jealousy and possession in his voice. He wrapped an arm around your waist and took you to an area of the table that had two empty seats. He’s never used that tone with you before, and it made the deepest parts of your body and soul come alive with fire. 

Throughout the meal, Mikko had his hand on your thigh the entire time. When he first rested his hand there, you nearly choked on your food. Sure, Mikko was touchy with you, but it was usually an arm hanging around the top of whatever chair you were sitting in or an elbow resting on your shoulder. He never put his hand on your thigh before, and he knew exactly what it did to you because as he watched you drink some water to clear your throat after a coughing fit brought on by his touch, he leaned down and whispered in your ear, his breath hot and exhilarating against your cheek,

“Are you okay?” 

Without looking at him, you knew he had a smug grin on his face. 

“Peachy,” you replied, not giving him any look. He chuckled in your ear in response and pulled back to continue eating, but his hand didn’t leave your thigh. 

When you were both done eating, Mikko leaned back in his seat. Deeming it wasn’t close enough to you, he scooted his chair closer to you and changed the position of his hands. The hand that was previously resting on your thigh migrated to rest against the back of your chair, parallel to your shoulders. His thumb was tracing soft circles on the soft skin between your neck and the point of your shoulder. His other hand took one of your hands and place it in his laugh. He intertwined his hands with yours as his thumb traced small circles along the pulse point of your wrist. 

This time, you weren’t shocked at the touch and leaned into his body. 

You and Mikko sat like that for the next half-hour as conversation filled his backyard and everyone got more food and caught up after a summer away from each other. 

Noticing that most people were done with their food and had thrown their plates and utensils into the trash, you asked, “Should we bring out the dessert?” 

“Sure,” Mikko said, mentally preparing himself to let go of you. As if seeing you both unwillingly moving from your seats, Gabe piped up saying he and a few other people can grab the dessert.

“You two have done so much already,” Gabe comments. “You two relax.” 

After giving him directions about where to find everything, you and Mikko relaxed back into each other, a breath you both didn’t know you were holding breathed out. 

A few minutes later, Mikko nudges you with his knee, and you look at him to find him already looking at you. He had a soft smile on his face as his eyes roamed across your face. You weren’t sure what he was searching for, but with a small smile, you knew he found what he was looking for. 

“Thank you for helping me, today,” he says, his voice quiet amongst the loud atmosphere in the backyard. With those six words, all the other voices faded away, even as cheers went up when the dessert was brought out. 

“You don’t have to thank me,” you reply, an earnest look in your eyes. “What else are friends for?”

“I’d say we put on a good event, no?”

“I’d say you’re right.” 

After that, neither of you says anything, but you’re both still looking at each other, searching over each other’s features for that secret message that neither of you truly knows what it is. It’s not until Mikko leans closer and his eyes go down to your lips does your heart stop and you get breathless. You and Mikko have been practically sitting on top of each other for the past hour, but it’s not until he leans less than a centimeter closer to you do you get breathless. 

The hand that was wrapped in your hand goes to cup your cheek. In a matter of seconds, he leans down and gently places his lips on yours. His thigh is bouncing up and down in nerves, and on instinct, one of your hands goes to cover his gargantuan thighs as your other hand goes to the back of his head to pull him closer to you. 

This, this is what you’ve been waiting for. 

His lips are soft against yours as he deepens the kiss, both his hands now resting softly against your face. Slowly and breathlessly, Mikko pulls away, his nose resting against yours. 

“I hope you know how much I love you,” he whispers against your lips. 

“I hope you know how much I love you,” you echo, still not quite believing that this was happening. 

“I fell in love with you seven years ago and never stopped. When I saw you at that wedding, it was like the universe gave me another chance. I’m sorry it took me so long to tell you.”

You shake your head before placing a soft peck on the tip of his nose. “I could have told you how I felt, too.” 

“I love you,” he whispers, a wide smile lighting up his face. 

“I love you, too,” you murmur, closing the space between his lips and yours. When his lips touch yours again, it feels like the universe is perfectly aligned. Everything is perfect because finally, finally, you and Mikko are on the same page. 

Kissing him feels like summer, and you will always be catching feelings for him. 

When you first landed in Denver at the start of the summer, running into Mikko was the last thing you wanted to do. You didn’t want to think about the feelings you had for him that one summer seven years ago, and you didn’t want to think about how hard it was to live your life in conjunction with those feelings after you returned home. 

You always knew that Mikko was the one for you. It was always going to be him. 

So

As you tape up your final box, four years later, you can’t imagine what your life would have been like if you didn’t have that dance with him at the wedding. It’s hard to imagine what your life would turn out to be if you didn’t see that text from him. It’s especially hard to see what your life would be like if he wasn’t the first one to confess. 

“Ready to go?” Mikko asks, holding a box, leaning against the door frame of your apartment. “If you’re not ready to move in with me, I—”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” you interrupt. “I’m just reflecting.” 

Mikko smiles. “Then reflect all you want. I’ll be waiting for you. Always.” 

And with that, a new chapter in your life began. With Mikko at your side and you at Mikko’s side. 

The End

~~~

I hope you enjoyed this! Please let me know what you thought; any form of feedback is greatly appreciated!

[laurenairay]

hc request: mikko & an innocent / naive partner :3

Oh this is an interesting one. It took me a moment to think about how I was going to shape it with Mikko, but I kinda love where it ended up:

We all know Mikko is loud, energetic, kinda goofy. He’s the life and soul of the party, not an ounce of shame in his body, and an absolute beast on the ice (and off it!). Maybe people would expect him to have a partner with the same kind of hubris as him, but when they realise he has a partner who is basically the definition of innocence? I’m all here for it.

I feel like Mikko, for all of his confident showmanship, is by nature very much a protective kind of guy. Maybe it’s a cliché but having a partner who doesn’t see the bad in the world makes him go a bit caveman sometimes, totally instinctive of protect protect protect.

Also like the switch between being a teddy bear for his partner to being a grizzly bear to anyone who upsets them. No-one gets to hurt his sweet little dove and that’s that.

There would be times where he might get frustrated with the naivety and I’m sure there are times where his partner would feel like he’s being condescending, but overall I think it’d be a pretty sweet balance.

Mikko has his literal other half, and if his loud confident nature defends them from the atrocities that the world can bring? He’s ready for it.

[senditcolton]

Warmer in the Winter

Bantering, judging each other but in a way that’s like, “what you’re doing right now is really stupid but you’re adorable and I can’t help but love you.”

part of my Valentine's Day prompts requested by @smileysvech | word count: 1k | warnings: none! bonus instagram edit!!

Every relationship went through its fair share of ‘firsts.’ First date, first time meeting friends, first ‘I love you’, first holiday with family, first trip, etc. But it seemed that dating a professional athlete came with its own set of firsts.

One of which you were experiencing right now: first family skate.

The NHL Winter Classic had finally made it to Colorado and your boyfriend Mikko invited you to the game. That invite wasn’t new; you had come to Ball Arena multiple times to support him and cheer him on from the box seats with the other wives and girlfriends. But when he told you that he was bringing you to the family skate the day before, you freaked out a little.

This was big – this was Mikko publicly claiming you as his. You knew there would be media and it was likely that you would be posted on the Colorado Avalanche socials sooner rather than later. It felt like a big step in your relationship. Your nerves of the media attention were only combined with your nerves of skating in front of everyone.

You would be the first to admit that you weren’t the strongest skater. Sure, you could stand, you could coast. But matching the speed and ease of your professional hockey boyfriend? That wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. And Mikko knew it. In fact, he relentlessly teased you about it.

You were thankful for the teasing though. It was never malicious and, in all honesty, it just made you want to prove yourself. That was usually the goal whenever you stepped onto the ice with Mikko. But today, the goal was simply not to make a fool of yourself.

That goal was on loop in your mind as your step out onto the ice, the snow falling gently around you, Mikko’s hand firmly in yours. He smiles at you and you force yourself to smile back, loving the sight of his blond hair peeking out from underneath the Colorado Avalanche beanie. Mikko pulls you along as he skates backwards, helping you balance.

“You don’t look like Bambi anymore,” he chirps as you move your feet, your gaze focused on the ice.

“Gee, thanks babe,” you mutter, your hand tightening in his.

Mikko guides you around the rink a little longer, gliding you through turns and you start to relax. Your eyes lift from the ice to look around Mile High Stadium. The bronco is emblazoned, the snow not covering it just yet. You couldn’t wait to see that it covered tomorrow – not with snow but with Avalanche fans cheering on their team. Those hopes swirl through your mind, distracting you momentarily, so much so that you don’t feel Mikko’s hand slipping away from yours until it’s almost gone. You immediately tighten your grip, turning your gaze back to him to see a mischievous smirk on his face.

“If you let go of my hand, I’ll kill you,” you say, fixing him with a stern look. Mikko’s only response is another grin as he continues to wiggle his hand free.

“You would need to skate on your own in order to catch me,” he chirps right back, finally releasing himself from your grasp and pushing backwards a few paces.

Your face hardens in a playful scowl as you move your feet, trying to propel yourself forward, all while attempting to stay upright. Mikko just continues to skate backward a few feet ahead of you, that smug smirk still on his face as he takes in your determined flailing as you try to keep up with him.

But Mikko – no matter how skilled and confident of a skater he was – was no defenseman. He pushes himself backward once again to keep the distance between you, but he stumbles over his own two feet. He practically flips in the air, falling on his back with a heavy groan.

The initial worry subsides when you hear him laugh, the noise bringing forth your own cackle. You skate up to his form splayed on the nice, glancing down with a smirk on your face oh so similar to the one he was wearing a few minutes ago.

“Need any help there, babe?” you ask, the words dripping with amusement.

His steel blue eyes look up at you, a slightly embarrassed smile on his lips made more evident by the pink in his cheeks. Mikko lays there for a minute, contemplating your offer before he pouts, holding his hand up to you in defeat.

As soon as your hand is clasped in his, you feel his hold tighten in yours. Your eyes widen as you subtly shake your head, realizing his plan a moment too late. The pout on his face quickly morphs into a wicked grin and before you can react, he is pulling you forward. Your center of balance fails you, your body tipping as you fall, landing on top of Mikko with a shriek.

“Mikko,” you squeal, playfully smacking him on the chest. “What was that for?”

“Couldn’t let everyone think you were a better skater than me,” he laughs, his hands falling to your hips as your body straddles his.

“I think your secret is safe,” you reply, looking down at him with a grin. Mikko just smiles up at you, his hand lifting to brush the snow from your cheeks.

Gravity was to blame for a lot of things and if you needed to, you could blame gravity on the way your body lowers itself until your face hovers over his. A moment passes before you move those final centimeters, pressing your lips into his. Mikko returns the kiss with a fervor, pulling you impossibly closer. The chill from the ice starts to seep through the fabric covering your knees but you don’t care that much because the desire pouring from Mikko warms you from the inside.

“Hey, get a room you two. There are children here,” you hear Nate chirp, his voice breaking through the bubble and breaking the two of you apart. You playfully scowl in his direction, a glare that he only responds to with a laugh.

You carefully remove yourself from on top of Mikko, pulling yourself onto your feet with the help of the solid boards next to you. Mikko peels himself off the ice, dusting the snow off his clothes before taking your arm in his. You let him guide you back towards the center of the ice as the snow continues to fall.

[crow-talks-hockey]

Killing Strangers - an Avalanche mob AU from multiple POVs (Mikko, Nate, and Cale) pt 3

Mikko tried to calm his nerves. Just be okay. Just be okay and we’ll get you safe. He ran a hand shakily through his curls, anxiously pacing back and forth. Gabe laid a hand on his shoulder and Mikko stopped, turning to him with worried eyes. “He’ll be alright, Mikko. Everything’s gone to plan so far, Artturi can handle himself, you know that.”

Mikko swallowed thickly and nodded. Gabe was right. He shouldn’t be too worried. Artturi was scrappy, not exactly strong but he could slip away pretty easily if it came down to that. Mikko exhaled loudly and stood still, fiddling with his hands and picking absently at his skin. “I know. I know, it’s just… I don’t want him hurt,” confessed Mikko, trying to keep his gaze on the wall ahead and not darting every which way, searching for Artturi’s small figure.

“I know the feeling,” agreed Gabe as he readjusted his suit button and smoothed down his tie. “This is necessary for us, though. He’s giving us valuable leverage, you understand that, right?”

“Of course. I don’t doubt your plans, it’s just difficult being away from him so much. Always is,” Mikko reminded his boss plainly.

Before Gabe could say anything else, Mikko was moving forward. Artturi was walking down the alleyway cautiously, looking around slowly with his hands in his denim jacket. It was Mikko’s loud footsteps that alerted him and immediately Artturi’s face snapped to him and broke into a smile. Mikko crashed into him, lifting the fellow Finn in an embrace. Mikko buried his face into Artturi’s neck and laughed. He set Artturi down gently. “Hi,” he greeted sheepishly.

Arturri’s teeth flashed white over his lips in a grin, he playfully shoved Mikko away. “Hi.”

Mikko jabbed back at him, and managed to mess up Artturi’s sheaf of hair over his eyes. Artturi shot him an annoyed look and he pushed back his thin, blonde hair so that it didn’t fall into his eyes. He readjusted his jacket, blushing faintly. “Senkin ääliö,” he muttered in Finnish. 

Mikko sighed and responded back, “Ah, mutta minä olen ääliösi.”

Artturi rolled his eyes and pulled Mikko closer to him, looking up into his starkly blue eyes with adoring curiosity. He’d always reminded Mikko of a cat, or rather, possibly a kitten. “Exactly,” Artturi admitted, switching to English.

Mikko felt himself leaning down, everything else around him becoming nothing more than TV static. Before anything more could happen, however, Gabe interrupted. “Excuse me, lovebirds, but we have places to be. This is no safe place, I’m sure you’re both aware.”

Mikko pursed his lips and shrugged apologetically at Artturi. “Alright, alright. Let’s go.”

Gabe nodded, eyes glinting with something faintly untouchable. “That’s what I figured,” he boasted. “I have my own man to get home to.”

“Oh, you mean the one you pissed off? That one?” Mikko gave Artturi a sly grin, letting him in on the fun. Artturi may be quiet and gentle, but he could chirp along just fine.

Artturi gasped falsely, “Oh, Gabe. Are you just jealous?”

Gabe climbed into the front seat and started the engine of the car, it rumbled to life and Mikko held the door open for Artturi to sit in the middle beside him. Gabe scoffed, offended, “What? No. And I didn’t piss him off.”

“Oh yes you did too. Why else would he not come along?” Mikko implored, still light-hearted.

“Because he’s busy sulking around at me doing my job. We argued, but it isn’t my fault he’s taking it way too personally. And sure, maybe I did bite his head off just a bit…” Gabe trailed off and shook his head. The defeat was evident in his silence.

Artturi smirked and tapped Mikko’s shoulder. “There it is.”

“Just apologize,” suggested Mikko. 

Gabe turned the car out onto the road and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “He won’t accept just that. The man holds a grudge like hell,” Gabe sighed.

Mikko met eyes with Artturi, gaze dark with something eerily close to desire. “I know what else he’d accept…”

“Mikko!” Gabe exclaimed with a shocked laugh.

Mikko brushed his fingers along Artturi’s jawline and the Finn blushed a deep pink, his mouth just barely agape and his head tilted at an imploring angle. “What?” questioned Mikko innocently, eyes so warm with love he wondered if Artturi might actually melt. “I know it works on Arsi,” Mikko continued, hardly aware he was even speaking.

Artturi giggled, and before finally pulling him in agreed, “Yeah, it does.”

Mikko leaned back against the plastic of the door, it dug uncomfortably into his shoulder blades. He couldn’t bring himself to care. Artturi had always been a gentle lover, nothing was ever harsh and aggressive with him. He was just… kind. Mikko adored it. Their job was a hard one, and even Mikko found himself hungering for revenge and violence more than he liked to admit. Unlike him,  Artturi stayed level-headed; he did the job that was required, but his hands stayed soft and loving. 

Mikko felt the denim and thick stitches of Artturi’s jacket, the way the clothing folded as he moved to hold Mikko’s head in his hands. Mikko grasped Artturi by his torso, pulling him ever so slightly upward as he pressed his forehead against his. Artturi grinned, pushing back stray curls from Mikko’s face. Mikko gave him one last short kiss, and then laid his head on top of Artturi’s. He closed his eyes, embracing the silence. 

Gabe eyed them through the car’s front mirror, but didn’t say anything. Artturi winced, drawing Mikko’s attention. “What?”

“Nothing, the seatbelt…” Artturi searched for the word but came up blank, “thing is digging into my hip.” He moved himself off Mikko’s thigh and sat close beside him, nestling into Mikko’s chest as he threw his arm around Artturi.

The drive back was pretty long, dark, and quiet. Mikko didn’t mind the silence, it was calming. They were on the outskirts of the city, far out from where any dangerous gangs lay. He thought of how they’d gotten here as the buildings and streets passed by in a haze.

Artturi had needed to come up with false information to get back home from his stay with the Lightning. He’d been under a false name, of course, acting as a lowly Avalanche member ready to sell them out for better cash, which the Lightning were happy to provide. For almost two months, Artturi had been known as a spy for the Lightning. He’d made trips to and from their territories, coming back from the Avalanche with just enough of what the Lightning wanted to keep up the ruse. All the while, he’d been collecting intel on the Lightning, sneaking around in the shadows to follow the bigger pawns in their game when he couldn’t get access to meetings for confidentiality. Gabe had come up with the idea, and surprisingly, everyone had come out almost unscathed. Mikko found it hard to believe. They had information, leverage. Sure, they’d lost some valuables and cash to it, but it had gone as planned. Part of him felt eerily uneasy at that.

Maybe this was too good to be true. Artturi opened his eyes and looked up at him, brows slightly furrowed. Mikko exhaled a breath, his chest tight. Something felt wrong. “What?” Artturi questioned.

“Were you followed?” Mikko asked.

“I… no. Why? I’m more careful than that, you know that.”

“Gabe,” called Mikko, getting his boss’ attention at the tone of his voice, “pull over.”

“Why?” began Gabe slowly.

He was cut off by Mikko’s exasperated sigh, “Just do it.”

Gabe’s brows rose, but he obliged and the car came to a gravelly halt. Mikko got out of the car and observed his surroundings. It was dark, the neighborhood of apartments and small businesses that lay just outside the city’s heart quiet. Mikko paused, pursing his lips as he waited. He could taste the faint salt in the air as he ran his tongue across his lips in waiting. He slowly grasped the blade at his hip, his hand hesitating on the handle. 

Then, out of the shadows three figures in suit and tie appeared. One of them was tall, big in stature like Mikko, with a scraggly beard and deep brown hair. His hands were tattooed with deep shooting streaks of lightning and his eyes were a cold enough blue that they stood out even in the dark. Beside him, in the middle, stood a slightly shorter man with blonde hair— almost like Artturi’s, but cut shorter. He smiled politely, his stance relaxed and calm. On the right of him was another brown haired man, he looked younger than the other two, maybe Mikko’s age. His hair was curly and went down his neck, about to his shoulders. His face was pale, his mouth stern set, his eyes focused intently. Part of him reminded Mikko of a large cat, just waiting for the signal to pounce. Each of them wore suits in varying shades of blue, white, and black.

Mikko tensed, staring the three down with threatening intensity. Bolts, Mikko registered faintly. He cracked the tension out of his neck, folding his hands in front of him. They stood there, silently squaring each other up for several moments. Suddenly, the tall man on the left came forward. Mikko was quick to draw his blade from its sheath, the steel hissed and glinted in the muted lamplight. 

The man in the middle held up a hand, tsking loudly as he shook his head. “No, no. Don’t you worry, we aren’t here to fight.” His voice turned dark with a premonition, “Not yet, at least.”

 The man with the rings and tattooed hands, held out something white and glaring. A… note? Mikko assumed, perplexed. Slowly, Mikko took the paper from his hand and the man said, Scandinavian accent thick, “We see you soon. Have a nice day.”

They turned away and had disappeared into the shadows before Mikko could say another word. Mikko stepped back abruptly, fingers already moving to tear apart the envelope. He scrambled into the car, taking his seat beside Artturi and slamming the door shut. Before he or Gabe could ask a thing, Mikko’s face paled and he cursed, “Shit…”

“What?” Gabe implored, voice heavy with concern.

Mikko held open the unfolded paper in his lap, letting it fall halfway out of his grip.

They have me.

Nate’s handwriting. The page was smeared with old blood and graphite. Mikko could barely think, he said the words without knowing, “They have Nate. They— the Lightning have Nate.”

Oh, they’d royally fucked up this one.

***

Nate slowly blinked awake, taking in his surroundings as his eyes unblurred and refocused. There was a cuff around his left wrist, and it was attached to a cold wall. Where the hell was he? The room was grey, barren, and painfully lit with bright fluorescent light. His neck stung… had he been drugged? Seriously? Could he not catch a break? Fatigue tugged at the edges of his mind, dimming his ability to think or register anything. The last thing he remembered was coming out of Pavel’s place to get some fresh air with Cale. Then… then what? He couldn’t articulate the memories.

Nate stood, hissing in a breath as he leg buckled and the cuff tore into his wrist. This was not good, to say the least. He needed to get out. Nate looked to the ceiling and around the floor for any vents or windows, anything. The only thing was a large opening in the ceiling, its grate had been removed and was letting in flowing gusts of air. Nate cursed under his breath. He couldn’t reach it even if his legs were good. Nate sat down in a thump again on the rickety mattress. Outside the room— or rather, cell— voices were barely audible. They weren’t close, however, and Nate suspected screaming or clawing at the door would do no good. He was trapped here, and it was for a reason. Nate was leverage now.

Nate thought through the long list of enemies he had; which ones were in correlation with the Lightning and those that may have received word of him ruffling the feathers of other gangs. Even cutting it down to that left a large number of groups, not just singular people, but entire gangs of angry people. Nate rubbed at his eyes, he should have figured this would happen. He’d just gotten healed enough to start working again, and he had picked up right where he left off. He’d raided warehouses, tortured men that Gabe wanted information from. He’d been the rabid dog, nipping at the heels of those that wanted him dead. This was the repercussion for his actions, though Nate wouldn’t dare regret anything he’d done. If the Lightning wanted war, he’d give it to them on a silver platter with no questions asked.

Nate cracked his knuckles and laid his head against the cinderblock wall. He just hoped Cale was alright. He’d been with the twenty-four year old when he’d been taken, and he could only assume that might mean he was here too. God, Nate hoped not. A familiar anxiety tightened his chest as the realization that he could have put Cale in danger again. He exhaled a shaky breath, trying to calm his out of control nerves. He’s fine. He can handle himself, Nate reassured himself, He’s probably out looking for you. He’ll be— He’ll be okay.

It was the creak of the metal door that tore Nate from his worries. Nate froze and looked at the face in the doorway. He titled his head to the side inquisitively, lips drawn in a thin line of hatred. The man before him had ruddy brown curls and beard, and his eyes were a deep coffee brown. His cheeks were reddened, not quite like Cale’s, but similar. He was average height, maybe an inch or so taller than Nate was. He wore a red suit and a black vest, complemented by a stark white button-up. Nate’s words were a growl, “Larkin.”

The boss of the Red Wings flashed a bright smile, familiar and close. “Nate. How have you been? I assume you’ve been well; bodies are piling up at my doorstep because of you.”

Nate laughed, cruel and bitter, “Yeah. I’ve been good.”

Larkin stepped closer to Nate, studying his tired and injured features with plain curiosity. He breathed the barest laugh, shoulders shrugging. It seemed to say, Oh how far you’ve fallen. He spoke candidly, “You know, there was a time when we really could have used this you. A time when you could have picked up good cash, too. A shame it had to come to this, truly. But, I’ve waited a long time to capture the Näken’s wild dog, so how can I complain? You are quite valuable.”

Nate felt his cheeks heat with anger, but he stayed still. He didn’t enjoy being talked about like an object. Larkin snapped his fingers towards Nate, and two other Red Wings came into the room. One held Nate’s right shoulder with an iron grip as the other undid the cuff at his other hand. They forced him to his feet and then threw him down before Larkin, holding him still. Nate fought them, as that was only instinct, but he was too tired from pain and whatever it was they’d drugged him with to make any good moves against them. His attempts were futile, and Larkin seemed to delight in his frustrated screaming. Nate shook back the stray strands of hair from his face and glared at the man before him, his teeth bared in disgust.

Larkin crouched down, drawing a dagger from his suit, it glinted in the fluorescent light. Nate glanced at it, eyes glinting pridefully despite his predicament. Dare me, urged Nate. Let’s just get this shit over with.

Larkin grabbed Nate’s face with his hand and tilted it this way and that, the blade pressing lightly against his jawline. Nate scowled, pushing away the urge to just bite his hand in retaliation. Larkin hummed under his breath, examining him closely. “I see why they run from you. You’re excellently built, Gabe is lucky to have you as an asset. Well, he was.” Larkin’s brows rose and he noted, “And you have a startling lack of scars for the kind of work you do. You must be better than we thought. It’s a shame that we have to ruin it, I don’t like wasting talent the likes of yours. But, a job is a job. I’ll get what I want— that being a healthy amount of money—, and you… you’ll suffer.”

With that, Larkin drew his blade up and across Nate’s face and abruptly stood. He removed his white pocket square and cleaned the bloody dagger. Nate barely even hissed in a breath at the familiar feeling. Larkin nodded, impressed. Casually, he readjusted his suit and cleared his throat before expressing, “I’ll be back, I’m sure you know.”

Nate smirked. Of course you will be.

Larkin laughed, amused at Nate’s resourcefulness. “I just had to make sure you could even bleed,” he admitted, and then turned and was gone.

The men beside him released him and Nate fell to his elbows, his head pounding and ears ringing as blood slowly streamed down his face. Dimly, he heard the men walk away scoffing and the door slammed shut. Nate was shaky, and what felt like all of his energy had been used in staying upright and attentive to the situation. He laid his hands behind his head, trying to feel the texture of his hair to calm himself. He thought of Cale’s warm smile, of him pulling Nate in, of his loving eyes. What if they’d hurt him? What if Cale hadn’t been able to escape and he was here? No, no if he was here Larkin would have already used him as leverage to get Nate to give him what he wanted. Or rather, what the Lightning wanted. Larkin only wanted the money that came from capturing and torturing him. 

Nate stared at the concrete, mouth agape as he fought for breath. Come on, Nate. Get it together. He’s fine. You— you’re fine. You’re going to get out of here and you’ll both be just fine. Just focus on getting the hell out of here. But how? How? Nate shook his head to himself. This wasn’t something he just got out of, the only escape was death. He had no options. He was weak. He was hurt. He was in need of saving. Either he died or someone else was going to, either way it was too complicated for him to accomplish right now. 

Nate forced himself to breathe and get to his feet. He laid down on the tattered mattress, laying an arm over his face to shield his eyes from the blinding light. His heart was sinking, and tiredness set in next to sadness. Nate was both feeling so much and so little, it was unfathomable. He  wanted home, he wanted Cale. He wanted to see Landy and EJ, to laugh with them. He wanted to go out with JT, Mikko, and the others. Nate turned to face the wall and closed his eyes. A part of him even wanted to see Sid again. His old mentor, the one that had taught him so much even though he hadn’t joined his gang. He would kill to just sit around with the people he loved, to be near and close to them.

Nate listened to the buzzing of the light. The Red Wings probably loved seeing him like this; unarmed and with no one to hold close. Nate almost laughed. Maybe that was the real punishment that Larkin was giving. Nate could take blades, bullets, punches, and any kind of pain, but this? Being alone? That was something Nate hated more than he cared to admit. He missed the support of his friends and of Cale, the way they never questioned how he clinged to them. Tiredness tugged at Nate’s thoughts, and before he knew it the world had gone dark and sleep had taken him. He slept dreamlessly and with an empty feeling in his chest.

***

It was the night when Artturi was supposed to return that Cale had made one of the biggest mistakes of his life. He’d let Nate go. They’d been in a meeting, with EJ leading in Gabe’s absence, and planning out their next move against the Lightning. They needed to make allies, and they were currently working on negotiations with a close by neighbor of the Lightning: the Hurricanes. It had been a stressful two months, and this meeting was even more tense than usual. So, Nate and Cale had stepped out of Pavel’s place to get some fresh air. They had just stood, holding hands, against the brick wall as they simply existed together. 

Then, pain had exploded in Cale’s skull and his knees had buckled. He’d wanted to stand up and fight, so bad. He had wanted to help Nate. But he’d only watched Nate throw helpless blows at his much larger opponents through blurring eyes as the darkness pulled him deep into unconsciousness. He’d seen Nate go limp in one of the man’s holds as the other drugged him with a needle and the last thing Cale had registered was the face of his broken watch. A reminder of what he could not do, of why he was here in the first place. His brother.

His brother was why he was here, or rather, the way he’d failed his brother was why he was here. They had been much younger when it had happened, Cale maybe sixteen and Taylor about fourteen. They’d been stupid, and it had cost them. One night they had decided to plan a heist. It was supposed to be simple, something just for fun. They had a neighbor, a rich neighbor, and around town he’d been known for being a watch collector. He fixed them, sold them, bid for them, loved them more than anything— as his wife had passed away before either of them had been alive. 

He and Taylor had worked their routes, gotten their angles, and eventually everything had gone to plan. They’d managed to steal what they wanted without much trouble, that being two watches with one for each of them to fence. It had been oddly quiet afterward, but neither of them had worried much about the fact that Mr. Howe had never reported anything missing to authorities. Taylor and Cale had celebrated their cleverness, enjoying the reward of their crime. Well, they had until the fateful evening in March when they’d been walking back from school. Three men, still bearing the traces of boyhood in their features— they couldn’t have been older than twenty— had appeared in the street and dragged them to the alley.

Cale still hated himself for not defending them both. He’d taken every punch, every cut, everything they had and he had done nothing. It had gone so fast. He’d watched Taylor crumple to the concrete against the wall as one of the men stabbed his blade into his side and the other yanked the watch off Taylor’s wrist. Then the third man had thrown Cale beside him, and— as he saw the watch at Cale’s own wrist shatter into worthlessness— he abandoned ship. The men had only laughed, examining Mr. Howe’s watch and remarked to each other how much they’d be paid for recovering the old man’s valuables.

Cale had cried like a child that day, sobbing uncontrollably as he watched Taylor’s body go cold and his eyes glaze over. “I’m sorry,” was the last thing his brother said.

Cale still wasn’t sure how many hours he’d clung to Taylor’s body, pleading for him to do the impossible thing and wake up. The night had passed and by the next morning, the authorities were prowling the town with loud sirens. They must have been searching for him, probably because of his parents, but Cale did not want to be found. So, Cale had done the unfathomable: he’d let Taylor go, stood, and left him. 

He’d run as far as he could, as fast as he could and eventually his running had brought him crawling directly to a Swedish man named Gabriel Landeskog’s doorstep. It was there that he’d joined the Avalanche. And it was there that he’d learned that Mr. Howe was an old boss of the Red Wings gang, and that those boys were competing to get in. It was there that he met the young, stubborn, and blood-thirty Nathan MacKinnon. It was there that Cale decided he would never make the mistake of not defending those he loved again, but it was also where he decided he would never rob someone of their family again— even if they had none. 

Ever since Cale had done his job under the contract that he would not kill a man. And he did his job well. He made the impact he wanted and left it at that, keeping the shattered watch he’d stolen as an eternal reminder. He never took it off except to sleep. It was the only thread of peace he had left. It was Taylor’s ghost, keeping him in line. Cale was paying his penance in living, breathing blood.

Now, Cale had again failed his brother. He had made the exact same mistake with Nate as he had with Taylor. Nate could be dead, and it was his fault. It was his fault all because Cale couldn’t muster the strength to just stay conscious and fight for him. He was just as weak as he’d been in that alley years ago. Time had moved on, but Cale was stuck in place. 

Cale opened his eyes, flexing his hands against the concrete and wincing as a piece of broken glass poked at his skin. He stood, and watched as Gabe’s car pulled up to Pavel’s. What was he going to tell them? How was he going to tell them? He dusted off his suit, ignoring the blinding pain in his skull. He felt the back of his neck, it was sticky with dried blood. 

Gabe was quick to storm out of the car, Mikko and Artturi— Cale breathed a sigh of relief, at least Artturi was okay— followed close behind. Gabe froze at the sight of Cale, his face paling. “Cale,” he breathed in relief, “you’re okay. That’s good. I— I have something to tell you.”

Cale’s brows furrowed. “Of course I’m okay… I was just about to tell you something, too.”

Gabe peered close at Cale, stepping forward to examine him. He patted Cale’s arms, and motioned for him to come inside with them. “You don’t look okay. Let’s get inside, shall we?”

They filed inside and got their seats, Gabe pushing EJ away urgently when he tried to greet him. Gabe did not sit, he leaned over the table, head bowed. He motioned for Cale to speak first. Cale swallowed thickly, trying to clear his head. “Nate—” his voice broke and he closed his eyes. Get it together. Cale tried again, “Nate’s gone.”

Gabe, Mikko, and Artturi’s heads snapped up. They looked to and from each other and Cale gave them a confused glance. Did they know something he didn’t? Without a word, Mikko reached into his suit pocket and unfolded a piece of paper. He slid it slowly to Cale, looking guilty. Cale’s expression softened. It was Nate’s writing. He was alive.

“H—How?” stammered Cale, “Where?”

“We don’t know,” admitted Gabe. “Three Bolts showed up and gave it to Mikko. Nate could be long gone by now, and we don’t know who might be allied with them. They wouldn’t send him to someone obvious. We’re in the dark here. That means they want something, and… and if they don’t get it we all know what they’ll do to him.”

“So how the hell do we find him?” Cale snapped, exasperated.

Gabe hung his head and shrugged. The room was tense with silence, everyone thinking about the situation they were in. Nate meant something to all of them here. He was a friend, a son, a lover. Artturi spoke up softly, “We may have more leverage than you think.”

Collectively, everyone seemed to come alive at that. Gabe nodded for Artturi to continue.

“I— I spent a lot of time with them. They liked hearing me give them information on us, little secrets in the alleys, warehouses, and whatnot. In turn, they let me make runs to some of their allies. The secret ones, ones they made just because they are our enemies. I also did some of my own research, sneaking around when they sent me off. I think I could narrow down some searches, if that would help,” offered the Finn. “I know some guys that might talk, too.”

“Yes, please,” sighed Cale. “I… I can’t lose him again.”

Artturi nodded curtly and he stood, peering at the map of the city. He picked up a pen and began to scribble, pointing here and there at the marked territories. Every once in a while he’d explain who ran a warehouse, how occupied a building was, the security in the area. They spent until past noon of the next day just running over plans over and over again. Gabe would send out men to go and search, others would run to their own allies and make negotiations. Cale helped debrief the men Artturi suggested as malleable and manipulable. 

Light filtered in through the huge, decorative windows of Pavel’s place. Cale was only vaguely aware of time and its passing. The others had brought food a couple hours ago, and then a few had gone on break so— Cale closed his eyes in thought— it might have been around four. Tiredness was making his eyes sting, and staring at a computer or a book hadn’t helped either. He was fatigued, stressed, and in dire need of caffeine despite already having plenty. Gabe laid a hand on his shoulder and Cale’s breath caught as he flinched. Gabe looked royally unimpressed.

“You should go and get some sleep. You aren’t doing us any good doing—” Gabe motioned wildly at Cale’s messy notebooks and the several open tabs of his almost dead computer— “whatever this is. You’re getting sloppy and unhelpful.”

Cale gave Gabe an offended look. “I am not getting sloppy.” He rubbed at his eyes, his hair completely mussed out of control. He held up one of his notebooks pridefully in Gabe’s face. “I’m helping, see? I can’t sleep anyway, I’m too busy worrying over Nate. Every moment we spend resting is a moment where he could be laying dead on the floor of some abandoned warehouse. I can’t let that happen. I thought you would understand.”

Gabe shook his head and gently sat down Cale’s notes. He heaved Cale to his feet and immediately Cale’s vision blurred. He blinked rapidly, eyes watering and head buzzing. Cale’s grip tightened around Gabe’s forearm as he swayed slightly. Maybe he should have gotten up and stretched. Oh yeah, and he probably should have eaten something and had water, too. That would be good. Cale’s throat felt like it was coated with wool and absently his stomach growled. Definitely needed food and water. Good idea, Cale, he praised himself. Thanks, Cale.

“I do understand. But you need sleep, you should see yourself. I’ve never seen someone with eye bags as bad as yours. You look awful,” expressed Gabe. 

Cale hung his head, he knew Gabe was probably right, and even if he wasn’t Cale wasn’t going to win the argument. Gabe was too stubborn for that, Nate must have gotten it from him. Cale sauntered over to the stairs and hesitated on the railing post. “Fine. Just don’t let me sleep too long. I can’t miss anything.”

Gabe grinned. “Of course,” he said, though both he and Cale knew that Gabe would let Cale sleep to his heart's content anyway. There was no way in hell Gabe was going to force Cale to wake up because of a lead that might run dry anyway.

Cale could barely even heave himself up the stairs to the next floor. There weren’t sleeping areas on this floor, but as Cale looked up the next set of stairs he thought to himself, Screw it. So, he settled for picking an office to crash in. He moved down the hallway, looking for a good room. He found one at the end of the hall and quickly made his new home on the couch. Sleep hit him like a truck, and within moments Cale was out like a light. 

It was Valeri’s kind features that he awoke to, with the big Russian gently nudging him into consciousness. Cale had red marks on his arms from how his skin had stuck to the leather for too long and his cheeks were flushed. He groaned, trying to force his mind to rise with him. “How long have I been out?”

Val smiled warmly and helped Cale to his feet. “Day and a half or so. Do you need water?”

Cale swallowed thickly, cringing at how desert-dry his throat felt. “Yes,” he replied all too quickly. Val handed him a cold bottle and Cale drank longly. “Thank you.”

“Gabe wants you. We have something.”

Hope leaped in Cale’s chest and he grinned. He was quick to follow Val down the stairs, and he was at Gabe’s side within moments. His boss eyed him, silently giving him an I told you so. Cale ignored him. He did feel better. That was beside the point, if they had a shot at finding Nate Cale was going to take it. He wasn’t going to abandon him.

“We have a guy,” Gabe announced. “It turns out your scribbles were helpful. Mikko and Kurtis are going to bring him in tonight. Hopefully he’ll talk.”

Cale nodded. “That’s good. Is he from the Lightning?”

“Yeah. Mid-level guy, we might have to do more than just offer him cash to get him to talk, but I assume you have no problem with a little bit of bloodshed. Given that this is important, especially to you.”

Something dark settled into Cale’s expression. He looked at the watch on his wrist, the way it ticked on helplessly out of rhythm. He thought of Taylor laying in the alley alone. He thought of Nate, screaming out with no one to save him from an inescapable fate. He stared at the messy map and the notebooks filled with information that lay next to files on other gangs. Part of him wanted to laugh. No, he did not mind bloodshed at all, he decided. Not when it came to Nate. Cale covered the face of his watch and looked at Gabe. “Of course not,” he agreed, hating how candid his voice sounded.

Cale saw Gabe’s jaw tick, his lips pressed into a thin line as he fought not to smile. He patted Cale’s back and ran a hand through his strawberry blonde hair. “Good man,” complimented Gabe and he turned to leave. “I’ll see you back here tonight.”

“See you,” Cale replied back. 

He sat down, pulling a sketch of the man closer. He stared at the notes and the drawings longly. He closed his eyes and set down his head. Cale fiddled with his hands, unable to stop the anxious feeling from tightening his chest and making him feel breathless. He rubbed his temples, reaching over the table to grab a scone from the middle of the table. He needed to distract himself. Worrying was doing him no good. All he could do was hope that the man would talk, and that Nate was still alive. 

Cale doodled on an empty page of his leather-bound notebook absently. He sketched Nate’s familiar profile, trying not to be utterly saddened by how much he missed him. Aggressively, he erased the start of his drawing and redrew the circle for Nate’s head. He exhaled, thinking of Nate in his mind’s eye. Cale embraced the silence, clearing the worry from his mind and focusing solely on the task at hand. He sketched Nate’s blade-like nose, his stubborn jawline. He smiled as he penciled in Nate’s slightly wavy hair that was currently in need of a cut. Cale set down his pencil and brushed over the graphite with his thumb, blending out the color slightly over Nate’s imaginary cheek. He sighed, the emptiness of the room bleeding into his lonely heart. The second he looked away from the paper, Nate disappeared again. 

Cale was alone here. Maybe forever. Nate was nothing but lead on parchment.

The sun was beginning to set, golds and pinks from the sky filtering into the large, intricate room. The sun coated the tall pillars and maroon walls in an orange hue. Cale sat at the table, completely in the center of it all, his hair illuminated into a chestnut color. Cale outstretched his hand to the middle of the table, reaching for the sun’s warmth. Specks of dust floated up in the air from his books and maps. Cale drew back his hand and eyed the scone beside him. He stood, appetite having been  lost to his focus minutes ago. Cale slipped on his grey plaid suit jacket after removing it from the edge of his chair. He ran a hand through his hair and readjusted his storm colored tie. Cale turned away and abandoned the paper profile of Nate, the stale scone, and the bright setting sun. There was work to be done.

Cale was finally ready to do what was necessary.

[happer08]

okay so! i will be posting a blurb list along with a list of NHLers y’all can request in a few hours! i really wanna get back to writing and was hoping a few of you could help me out!

[ilyasorokinn]

andrei “all star” svechnikov , andrei svechnikov

note, finally my all-star fic is here! this year, it was between sid, svech, ilya and petey. i did write a petey blurb, so go check it out. if you want. anyways, i hope you enjoy. another note, this fic is part of the "mr. and mrs. svechnikov" series. check out this masterlist for more. in this fic, theo is around 4 while ana is 3. pair, andrei svechnikov x reader summary, the svechnikovs go to their first all-star game together. warnings, children/kids word count, 2717 words

gif credit to bestie @ryanpulock

(gif not mine)

Andrei, the entire way home, was tying to figure out a clever way to tell you he had been invited to the All-Star games. It came to him as he turned down the street of your house.

He quickly pulled into the dirveway and hooked his phone up to the speakers. He made it to the doorway when he finally pressed play on the song.

"Hey now, you're an all-star, get your game on, go play Hey now, you're a rock star, get the show on, get paid"

He heard you let out a scream when the song first started and laughed, pushing the door open to find you gaping at him from the living room, "What the hell?!"

"I'm an All-Star, baby!" He exclaimed.

"There are so many better ways you could have done that." You tried to slow your beating heart. Even your watch was asking if you were okay due to your elevated heartrate.

"Oh, come on, it was funny." He pointed out.

"We'll get back to that when I'm not about to have a heart attack."

-

After the initial shock, you were excited. You were going on a paid vacation, most expenses were paid for (most) and the climate was set for hot and even hotter so you were excited, to say the least.

Because the Canes were playing till the very last second, you didn't get into Florida until Thursday morning, but you were set to stay until the next Thursday.

The moment you stepped off the plane, there were cameras everywhere, all part of the Canes media or the NHL media. Andrei held Anastaisa's hand and helped her down the stairs, flashing them a professional smile. You stood behind Theo, watching him carefully climb down the stairs behind his sister.

After you got settled into your hotel room, you went with Andrei to media. You weren't normally allowed to be with him, but exceptions were made.

The three of you stood off to the side, watching him and looking around at everyone else who was doing media. Theo ran up and hugged Andrei's leg, looking up at all the reporters nervously. Andrei, not wanting to lose his train of thought, only placed a comforting hand on Theo's head, acknowledging him.

When all the questioning was over, the Canes media wanted to get some shots of him "Is it okay if we ask Theo and Anastasia a question?" One of the media people asked, "We're asking all the kids questions and putting together a little compilation."

Once they were given the okay, the cameras were on Theo and Anastasia. Andrei was crouching next to them as Theo held an iconic tiny microphone for both of them.

"So, Theo, tell us, who are you most excited to see this weekend?" Theo looked around at all the other tables to see who else was at the event.

"Crosby." He answered, "And Ovi, oh, and Marner!" Theo exclaimed happily.

"And what about you, Anastasia?"

Anastasia pondered the question for a second before answering, "Moose and Juice," She stated.

Andrei smiled in response before translating, "Mikko Rantanen and Juuse Saros."

Theo tugged on Andrei's pant leg, grabbing his attention and everyone else's as well, "Can we go swimming now, daddy?" Theo asked.

Everyone laughed, "Yeah, we can go swimming, buddy."

-

Theo had stated that he wanted to walk the carpet with Andrei where all the fans would be and all the paparazzi would be before the Skills competition.

You got him dressed in his best outfit, one which he chose specifically for this situation, "Will people ask for my autograph?" He asked excitedly.

"I don't know, buddy." You tied his shoe as he answered all his questions best you could, "But I do know you're gonna get your picture taken by all those people with cameras."

"Really?" His face lit up.

"Yeah, really." You nodded, a smile finding its way onto your face.

"Like daddy?"

"Just like daddy." You nodded, smoothing down his hair.

When both Andrei and Theo were ready, both you and Anastasia sent them off, with a promise of seeing each other in a couple hours. You got yourself and Anastasia ready before you headed over to the arena.

She was sporting one of the jerseys you had customized with "Little Svech" on the back with the number 37. You waited for Andrei and Theo in the hallway near the locker room.

As more and more players started filing out of the room, her eyes would go wide as they walked past, giving each of them a high-five, even if she didn't know who they were.

"Mommy, you see?" She jumped up and down as she gave Kirill Kaprizov a high-five.

"I did." You nodded, before spotting Andrei and Theo coming out of the locker room, "Look, there's papa and Theo." She whipped around and ran over to greet them.

Andrei was wearing a reverse retro Canes jersey and a hat while Theo wore his matching "Little Svech" jersey.

"Mommy, mommy!" Theo ran over to you the best he could in skates.

"What, what?" You asked.

"I met Breadman and Hughesy," Theo told you excitedly.

"Did you really? Wow."

"We missed Sid and Ovi." He frowned.

"That's okay, I'm sure you'll meet them soon." You reassured. You turned your attention back to Andrei who was smiling so big, and opened your mouth to say something but switched your attention to Theo and Anastasia who were excitedly talking to each other about all the people they met.

"Hey, I have an idea," You grabbed their attention, "Do you guys wanna be with papa out on the ice or do you want to sit with me in the stands?" You knew the answer before you asked the question.

They each latched onto one of Andrei's legs in response, to which both you and Andrei both laughed, "All right, I'll see you both later. Be good." They both nodded, "Listen to the adults in charge." They wrapped their arms around you, "Love you." You kissed their heads.

"Bye, mommy." They each kissed your cheek.

You stood up to meet Andrei. You wrapped your arms around him, "Skate really fast." You told him.

He laughed, "I'll try." He responded, "And don't worry about them, I've got them. Have fun, or as much as you can."

"I'll have two beers in your honor." You pulled your head away, with a smile on your face, so you could look him in the eyes.

"Sounds good." He leaned down and kissed you softly before you both pulled away.

You found your spot rather quickly and took a sip of your beer. From the ice, Anastasia spotted you and waved enthusiastically. You laughed, waving back to her.

"She's cute." The woman sitting next to you commented.

"Thank you." You beamed.

Down on the ice, Theo and Anastasia were having the time of their lives, hanging out with all the other kids and meeting all the other hockey players.

Theo and Anastasia were sitting on the bench, Ilya Sorokin sitting in between them, babysitter. At the same time, Andrei participated in his skill, snacking on ice cream bars as they watched the fastest skaters.

"Ooh." Anastasia winced when Cale Makar tripped and went flying into the boards. She looked up at Ilya, who laughed at her reaction. She giggled in response.

Kevin Fiala skated around the rink, and both Anastasia and Theo enjoyed it, but when they saw their dad step up to the starting line, they jumped up off the bench and started cheering.

"Papa!" They both jumped up and down, garnering the attention of people around them, who simply smiled at the two of them.

They didn't stop once as he skated around the rink. They only stopped when he skated over to where they were. They all looked up at the jumbotron and saw that he was now in first place.

"Wow." Theo gasped, and Andrei smiled proudly.

After Stephenson and Larkin went, Fiala and Andire were announced as the two finalists, "Go fast, papa." Anastasia told her father

"I will." Andrei laughed, kissing each of their heads once again. He skated out to the center of the ice with Fiala.

Andrei wanted to win it, but in the back of his mind, he knew that his 3 biggest supporters would be proud of him regardless of what happened.

Kevin Fiala went first and got 14.114. Andrei lined up behind the line and took a deep breath before he skated as fast as his legs could carry him.

He blocked out the sounds of people cheering and all the eyes on him and just skated. He skated until he made it back to the starting/finish line.

Once the timer stopped, he slowed down and looked up at the big jumbotron to see his time. He couldn't help but smile when he saw the 13.699 in big numbers.

He could practically hear Anastasia and Theo cheering from their seats and jumping up and down. He skated back over to the bench to do the interview but waved over across the bench to Theo and Anastasia whose smiles were almost as big as his.

"Andrei you realize, with Brady looking at you, you just outworked every single guy here with that lap. How do you feel right now?" Kevin, the reporter asked.

"I think I just got lucky, to be honest." He could hear his own voice come through the loudspeakers around the arena, "But I would never expect to win this, and I'm kind of excited."

"You know everybody around the league now is going to look at you as a Speedster. Are you ready for that title?" Kevin asked.

"Ah no, I'm not sure if they're gonna look at that" Andrei chuckled.

"Wow, great job congratulations, your first All-Star Game. You're the fastest skater." Kevin shook his hand.

"Thank you so much. Appreciate it." Andrei nodded.

-

After the tournament and the rest of the challenges, you waited in the tunnel near the locker room with a few of the other partners. You were talking with Johnny Gaudreau's wife while you waited for the rest of your family to come out of the locker room.

When Andrei finally exited the locker room, he was dressed and carrying both sleeping children in his arms. Your heart swooned when Andrei smiled.

He handed Anastasia off to you, "I have to get my bag, but I'll be back." He turned to head back into the locker room, but you grabbed his hand gently to stop him.

He looked confused as he turned around, "I'm proud of you, All-Star." You whispered, leaning up and kissing his cheek.

-

The next day, Anastasia and Theo were up bright and early. Jumping out of their bed and into yours, "Wake up!" They both shouted, jumping up and down.

You groaned, shoving your head under the pillow, "You promised us chocolate chip pancakes last night." Even though your eyes were closed and you couldn't Theo's face,

"Why did we do that again?" You reached over and softly punched Andrei in the shoulder who was in a similar position as you.

"To get them to sleep." He replied, his voice muffled by the pillow.

"Come on, come on!" Theo jumped off the bed and grabbed Andrei's arm, trying to pull him out of bed.

You both eventually pulled yourselves out of bed and got yourselves ready then took Theo and Anastasia down to get breakfast. After breakfast and spending some time at the pool, it was time to get ready for the game.

Andrei got ready a little quicker because he had to be at the arena a little earlier than you had to be, but he helped Theo get ready before he left.

"Goodbye, I love you both." He kissed each of their heads, "Be good for your mom. I'll see you on the ice." He booped Anastasia on the nose, making her giggle.

"And I love you, too." He turned his attention to you, "I'll see you later."

"See you on the ice." You kissed him, hugging him and savoring the feeling of him being there with you, "Love you, too."

-

Theo was sitting next to you chowing down on some popcorn while Anastasia stood on your legs, dancing to the music blasting through the speakers.

"Stormy!" Theo pointed a few rows over to the familiar mascot. That caught the mascot's attention, and he looked up. Theo waved erratically. Stormy finished the interaction he was having and then made his way up to your row.

You were luckily sitting at the end of the row, so Stormy sat down on the steps next to your seats after giving Theo and Anastasia big hugs. Theo and Stormy talked (which was more just Theo talking and Stormy nodding along) while you waited for the first game to start.

Al the set pieces were set up on the ice already so you waited excitedly as Anastasia babbled and danced away. The lights eventually dimmed, and Theo screeched, clamoring into his seat, holding tight to Stormy's hand.

The Central Division was announced first, then Atlantic, then finally Metropolitan, "From the Carolina Hurricanes, Andrei Svechnikov!" Andrei skated out from the big monitors.

Theo stood up in his seat and cheered loudly. Stormy jumped up and down with him, "Look, papa." You laughed, pointing down to the ice. Anastasia followed your finger down to Andrei. She giggled, looking up at you.

-

After all the games and Takchuk was named MVP, Andrei was in media, Theo sitting happily in his lap, "How was your first Al-Star game, Svech?"

"it was great, I had a lot of fun, and getting to bring the kids along is a plus."

"What're you gonna do now that you have a week-long break?"

"We're going to Disney World." He laughed, eliciting a laugh from the reporters in the room.

"I'm sure Theo and Ana are excited."

"So excited." Andrei nodded.

Theo tugged on Andrei's shirt sleeve and Andrei bent down, his ear to Theo's mouth, "Ovi and Sid." He whispered, but his whispering wasn't very quiet.

The reporters chuckled, "We'll go find them later." Andrei whispered back before turning back to the reporters.

"We won't keep you for long, Andrei. Seems like Theo is excited." Andrei nodded appreciatively.

"Thank you." He picked Theo up and exited the room.

The TikTok of the kids answering who they would want to see the most went viral, and in particular, Theo and Anastasia went viral. Most of the comments were saying that now Theo and Anastasia had to meet their favorite players, so the media set it up.

You and Andrei led Theo and Anastasia to the ice where Sid, Ovi, Mikko, and Juuse were waiting to meet their Number one fans, media all around you.

Theo let out a gasp when the rink came into view and he saw Ovi and Sid standing on the ice. Anastasia heard and turned her head to the ice.

"Juice and Moose!" She announced your presence, causing the four players to turn to you. All of you laughed as they skated over to meet you halfway.

Theo, suddenly shy, hid behind Andrei's legs as Sid bent down in front of him, "Hi, Theo."

"Hi." Theo waved shyly.

"I heard you were a big fan." Theo nodded. Ovi produced a puck and handed it to Theo. Theo reached out and took it.

"What do you say?" Andrei whispered down to him.

"Thank you," Theo responded.

"You're very welcome." They both smiled.

Anastasia was just as starstruck as Theo, hiding her face in your neck as Mikko and Juuse stood in front of her. They both smiled as Juuse produced a puck and handed it to her.

"Thank you." She responded.

"You're welcome, Ana." They both smiled, "It was nice to meet you."

She only smiled, clutching the puck to her chest. You smiled down at her, "Wow, Ana. You met Juice and Moose." She beamed. Theo bounced up and down as he flashed you his puck, "Wow, look at that! They both signed it!"

"We have to add it to my collection." He told you.

"We'll do it at home." You brushed a hand through his hair, "Now, come on, Disney World is waiting for us."

-

my taglist: @mitch-slap @kolsmikaelson @ashleymarine @typical-simplelove @rosesvioletshardy @laurenairay @kidlnthedark @bowen-power @lam-ila @catahshart @stars-canucks @drei-mrssvechii @iwantahockeyhimbo @2manytabsopen @nicohischierz @calermakar08 @hamilton160 @Pierrelucduboiis @thescooby-gang @sammysworldddd @mista-svech @paintlavillered @Hyppeln-agnes @samanthasgone @hockeyboysarehot @nicoleloveshockey @thedukes-56-5 @tkachukswife @hockeyunits @sidcrosbyspuck @dumbxblond3 @kaydenissleepy @Yagetintoit @seventieswhore @michellekirby30 @jamieeboulos @Coffeeandteaandflowers @bibella8swan @cuttergauth @boqvistsbabe @sophia-bordeleau @jayda12 @yangofyang @lifeofpriya @beccaiscold

add yourself to my taglist!

[pen-of-roses]

No Context Tag

Thanks @forthesanityofstorytellers!

Take a line from your wip and stick it in with zero context. So, here's one from Conor's POV:

His ear twitched at the name, his name, being yelled at the rotting corpse, standing as if supported by invisible strings in a sickening parody of life. It might as well have been him. The whole situation wrapped his stomach around stones he didn’t remember swallowing and burned his throat. Something heavy and icy cold filled his lungs and waves pounded in his ears.

Tagging: @concealeddarkness13 @maple-writes @mrs-mikko-rantanen @ratracechronicler But no pressure if ya'll don't wanna/don't do these

[eightmakar]

nsfweekend!!!

hello hockey tumblr it’s been a hot minute so let’s have a smut weekend! starting today, March 17th and going until Sunday, March 19th!

the Rules:

18+ only, please!

reblog this post if you’d like to help get the word out :)

send me a prompt + a Man

or send me your latest smutty thoughts

or your headcanons

anything let’s be Sluts

i write smut for:

cale makar

nathan mackinnon

mikko rantanen

erik johnson

artturi lehkonen

jt compher

tyson jost

ryan graves

andre burakovsky

prompt lists:

smut prompts

inexperienced smut prompts

sexy situations

sexy chirps

happy slutting!

tagging people:

@taking-shots @hockeylvr59 @harlowhockeystick @flashyfucker @jostystyles @jostyriggslover96 @burkymakar @fallinallincurls @cale8makar @jamiedryssdale @equallyshaw @capsvsducks @hockstuff @matbaerzal @mikkorantanev @holy-pucks @graves-makar @corneliaskates

[sc0tters]

Fights and Feelings | Mikko Rantanen

summary: when Mikko sees you with one of his teammates he realises that he wants to be more than just your friend.

request: yes/no

trope: friends to lovers

warnings: swearing

word count: 1.36k

authors note: here is the first avs player I’ve written for and I’m happy to say that this was really cute. If you want to read more of the celly then you can check it out here!

Mikko didn’t know how much longer he could keep quiet.

Tonight was the third night in a row that you were coming home because you were spending the night with Nathan. The Canadian had gotten the chance to take you on a date and he made sure to make the most of it before Mikko changed his mind.

The two of you had been living together for the last year and a half after your lease on your previous apartment ended. In 2017 your coffee order got mixed up with his and from the moment he offered you a conversation whilst you both waited for the second one, you haven’t looked back.

Your giggle could be heard from down the road as Nathan shut the passenger door to his car when you got out “you don’t have to walk me back again!” You smiled as the Canadian wrapped his arm around your shoulders “but I liked doing this.” Nathan shot back as he helped you back up the steps.

It was icy in Colorado not just because Mikko had seemed to be avoiding you but also because it was reaching the end of October so with that the cold front was rolling over Denver “I should go so I don’t wake Mikks up.” You sighed knowing that your best friend was still awake as he couldn’t sleep without knowing you were in the house.

Nathan nodded ignoring the disappointment that coursed through his veins “I’ll see you sometime soon?” His voice was hopeful as you smiled “of course, have a nice night MacKinnon.” You mumbled leaning up to press a kiss to his cheek.

That broke Mikko’s heart as he watched you through the ring camera as he sat on the couch “have a nice night?” Mikko repeated your words as he watched you walk into the living room.

You nodded as you slid your sneakers off of your feet “you finally done being an ass?” You shot back raising your eyebrow as you hinted back to the entirety of the morning.

Mikko hadn’t spoken to you at all, and if he did it wasn’t more than basic conversation. To you it seemed that he merely didn’t like that you were going out with his teammate. Once Nathan was a good friend of his but now Mikko couldn’t say two nice things about the Canadian as he seemed to worry that he would break your heart “I am just looking out for you y/n!” Mikko groaned as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

He watched as you crossed your arms “I’m not twelve Mikko.” Very rarely did you ever call him by his actual name as you usually settled for a nickname “besides he’s a good guy.” The addition was softer as you looked at the ground.

It made Mikko get up from his seat “he’s my teammate, I know him better than you do.” If his mother knew what he was doing she would have been on the next flight over from Finland “there it is again!” You complained shaking your head.

You felt hurt that your best friend couldn’t be happy for you as you finally found a guy who could treat you well “I am sorry but why can’t you just act like you are happy that I’m happy!” You felt like you were going in circles with him as you weirdly craved his approval.

The hockey player groaned “because I don’t want to stand here and watch you get hurt!” Mikko yelled causing you to shift back a few paces “then you don’t have to.” Venom laced your voice as you turned around and marched yourself to the front door.

Mikko sighed as he watched you open the door “where are you going?” The hockey player asked as he placed his hand on his hip “far away from you.” The response came from your lips as quick as you shut the door behind you making sure that you grabbed your car keys beforehand.

Tears clouded your eyes as you drove off not really knowing or caring where it was that you landed up at. Rain began to fall around you all as you continued until your eyes couldn’t take it anymore “I know it’s late but can I come in?” You begged knocking on the door as tears streamed down your face.

It might not have brought you as much comfort as he might have thought but Mikko had the worst night of his life. He slept on the chair in your room as he hoped to see you if you came back. Right after you left was the first time that he truly realized the potential for consequences due to his actions. The hockey player called Emily, a girl you worked with in the hopes that she could tell him where you were. Of course she didn’t but rather left him with the message that if he truly had no clue where you were then maybe he wasn’t as good of a friend as he once thought.

Practice had gone horribly as Nathan made sure to go tough on the boy until Gabriel was there to put an end to the fight that the boys almost had “enough you two!” He groaned standing in between his teammates in order to stop them from hitting each other.

All they did was glare at each other as their drama went beyond the team dynamic “what the hell are you playing at today!” Mikko grumbled as he spat at his teammate “maybe you should be asking y/n that.” As those words left Nathan’s lips Mikko’s clenched fist swung at his teammate.

You made your way into the arena as your sandals hit the floor “what are you doing here?” Mikko looked up from his icepack to see you stood there “Gabriel didn’t want you going home alone.” You grumbled crossing your arms .

It took him seconds to get up and follow as you spun on your heel “wait up!” He complained grabbing his duffel bag as he made sure to follow you “look let’s just get you home so I can leave again.” You should have said no to the captain, you would have told Gabriel that you had better things to do but instead you didn’t want to say no because you didn’t want to leave Mikko.

Even as you were irritated at him you watched his bruised hand brush over your thigh “I’m sorry.” He mumbled locking his pinky with yours.

The gesture made your heart swell “for punching him or for being a dick?” You sent him a glare as you pursed your lips together.

Mikko felt his heart pound as you walked back to your car. He weirdly didn’t have an answer for you which caused you to both sit in pure silence.

Orange and yellow leaves painted the windows of your car all the way until you drove him back to the house.

You chewed at the inside of your cheek as you turned to Mikko “I think we should take some time apart.” You gripped your hands around the steering wheel as you sighed.

The hockey player clicked his tongue “wait.” He stopped himself as he looked at you “I love you.” Mikko blurted out causing you to go silent.

Scanning his face for any part of a lie yet it was clearly all true “I’m should go.” Mikko sighed as he went to unlock his door but you were all too quick and beat him to it as you kept it locked.

Mikko furrowed his eyebrows as he frowned “look you clearly aren’t interested in what I said so just let me-” his complaint was short lived as your lips locked into his.

It took him a few moments before Mikko kissed you back letting his hand hold your head as it kept you there “Mikks-” you moaned as his tongue slid over your lower lip.

You felt his other hand go to your waist “wait,” you pulled away “I love you too.” Your words made him laugh “you think I didn’t get that from the kiss?” Mikko ran his fingers over your cheek.

[typical-simplelove]

Mikko Rantanen Masterlist

Main Masterlist

Summer Baby

[laurenairay]

Thanks everyone who sent a headcanon idea in! I had a blast writing these this weekend, and I hope you enjoyed reading them!

Jack Hughes - next door neighbours to lovers Miro Heiskanen - comforting his partner when lonely Tyson Jost - loves seeing his marks on you Tyson Jost – taking care of you when you have a headache Quinn Hughes – first night sleeping over Nico Hischier - friends with benefits to lovers Roope Hintz – fairytale Mikko Rantanen - innocent / naive partner Elias Pettersson – insecurity William Nylander – comforting each other with migraines

[senditcolton]

for your 1k celebration, could you please do a “wild and wacky” vintage chocolate cake for going to a sauna with mikko rantanen?

okay, i immediately love this idea and concept and i know Mikko would be so down for it!

Especially if you never experienced a traditional sauna before

Mikko would love to bring you into such an integral part of his culture

Say Mikko invites you to spend a summer in Finland with him

He has his own house or rents a place by a lake with a private sauna

And you want to immerse yourself in the culture

Not only because you want the full-experience

But because you really love Mikko and want to share your life with him and vice-versa

He tells you everything, walks you through every step

(and you are somewhat shocked to learn that this can go on for hours)

Maybe the first time you do it, you keep your swimsuit on for some level of comfort and security.

Mikko doesn’t mind – even though he tries to convince you to take it off

But you go through the whole process and it is so relaxing and fun

And you can tell Mikko loves to see you enjoying yourself so much

Perhaps one night you convince him to use the sauna again

And surprise him by showing up with nothing on

And Mikko is trying not to make it sexual (because that’s not what a sauna is supposed to be)

But you look so fucking sexy that he is losing his mind in the heat

And when the two of you jump into the nearby lake to cool off, he can’t resist pulling you close and kissing you fiercely

(and perhaps you go back in the house and heat up in other ways)

[unluckyhoneybee]

Cale's Best Friend (Mikko Rantanen)

When Cale wasn't as innocent as he pretended to be.

Note: first time writing for Mikko :). So obsessed with the guy.

Warning: alcohol consumption.

He walked out of the restroom still fixing his belt. It was late and he had gotten many drinks. Luckily, he was a big guy.

As he walked down the corridor, he saw something in the corner of his eye. He stopped on his tracks. You.

Mikko frowned and looked around. There was no one but two girls doing something dubiously legal in a corner. But still you were sleeping in a sofa with your dress way to high on your legs and probably too drunk. The posture was bad and your bag was on the floor.

"Fuck, Cale. How do you leave her here alone?" He muttered to himself.

He walked slowly and the two girls noticed his precence. One of them looked at him and smiled but he ignored her. He just reached and touched your arm. "Hey, YN"

You opened your eyes and after a few seconds of looking blankly at him, you smiled.

"Mikko. Hi"

"Hi, YN" He chuckled. You were beautiful but in that moment you were a mess. "Where's Cale?"

"Cale? I don't know any Cale" You giggled and hugged yourself getting more comfortable to sleep more.

"Hey, no. Wake up." Mikko touched your face and you laughed more. "Where is Cale, YN? Your boyfriend Cale"

"M-my boyfriend Cale. I don't have any boyfriend Cale"

"Fuck, YN."

"Yeah. I'd let you do that" You choked out.

"Okay" He took a deep breath and reminded himself how drunk you were. You didn't mean that. You had Cale and probably were very much in love with him. "Sit up."

He was strong but your drunk ass was a dead weight. It was harder than he thought. Once he had you sitting in the sofa, he grabbed your bag and passed it to you. "Okay. I'll go and find Cale. Just wait here"

"Tell him... Cale, yeah? Tell him I love his cheeks. They are so pink and cute"

Mikko smiled and looked into your eyes. She is so fucking cute. He pushed your hair behind your ear. "Don't move, okay?"

"Promised"

Mikko walked fast around the club looking for the pink cheeks guy. Gabe, Nate... There!

"Cale!" He touched his shoulder and his friend turned around.

"Mikko! Try this!"

Cale pushed a drink on his chest, spilling some and wetting his shirt.

"Hey, stop. Man. You are wasted." Mikko said taking the drink from him. "I just found YN sleeping in a sofa."

"YN?! I haven't seen her in ages"

Mikko groaned. "Dude, your girlfriend passed out in a dark corner and you are not even worried" He loved Cale but he was being a big ass asshole.

"My... What?"

"Man. Who is that?" Mikko randomly stopped Bo when he saw you walking down the corridor. You were so fucking pretty.

"That? YN. Haven't you met her? Cale has brought her a couple of times."

You turned around and he saw the Makar written in your back. Shit.

"No. I haven't."

"Well, that's Cale's girl. She is nice"

So nice. Mikko thought.

"Your girlfriend idiot. What's your problem guys? She didn't..."

"YN is not my girlfriend, man. That's..." Cale fake gagged. "She is my best friend!"

Mikko felt his mind foggy for a second. You weren't Cale's girlfriend. You weren't Cale's girlfriend. You weren't Cale's girlfriend.

"Well... She is... Fuck, she is alone and drunk."

"You left my best friend alone and drunk in some corner?!"

"You left your best friend alone and drunk in some corner" He exclaimed when he was already walking back to the dark corner.

He wasn't paying attention so he collided with someone, sending the smaller body flying to the floor. It obviously had to be you.

"Wow, shit. YN sorry" He quickly grabbed you and helped you up. You were giggling.

"Sorry. I'm clumsy"

Mikko chuckled.

"Are you going to fuck me now?" You said looking up into his eyes.

He felt his breath getting stuck on his throat.

"No. No, I'm not." He said with a sigh and you pouted. "Let's go and find Cale" He said in a hurry.

Mikko guided you around the people until you reached Cale. The reaction was of pure happiness. You both hugged each other as if you hadn't seen in ages.

"What the fuck?" Gabe muttered.

"They are so weird, man" Mikko muttered. He was the best trying to hide how affected he was by everything. "I'll go with them and drop them at home"

"You've drunk too."

"I'm calling an Uber"

He managed to get you both outside and then into the Uber.

"Do you mind waiting here?" He asked the driver. "I'll come down in a second."

"It's 5am"

Mikko sighed.

"Fine."

Mikko pushed you two inside Cale's house and groaned when you fell face down in the sofa.

"I'm going to sleep, buddy" Cale told him.

"Cale... Wait..." He tried to call him. He didn't know where you were sleeping. "Shit, Cale"

You groaned from the sofa. "I feel like shit, Cale"

"Cale is already in his room, YN"

"Oh. Hi, Mikko"

"Hi, YN" He softly said.

"I'll just sleep here. Thank you, Mikko"

"You're welcome, YN" He said but walked closer to you anyway. "I'll take your shoes off"

"Thanks" You said and laid your head on a pillow.

Mikko took your shoes off and then covered you with a blanket.

"Can I have a goodnight kiss?" You whispered. You had puppy eyes and your voice was now shy.

He had met the sobber you and this was more of what he knew.

Mikko doubted for long seconds. He barely knew you. You barely knew each other. He just thought you were incredibly pretty and had died of jealousy when he thought Cale was your boyfriend. But he wasn't. But he also didn't know if...

"Please"

Fuck it.

He leaned and kissed your head softly. "Have a good night?"

Before leaving, he rummaged through Cale's bathroom until he found tylenol and then got you a glass of water. He left it on the coffee table and took a last look at you sleeping. Cute.

When you opened your eyes in the morning, the headache was horrible and you didn't remember anything after having some shots with Cale.

"Hey"

You shouted and sat up. Cale was sitting there eating cereal.

"Shit, you idiot"

He chuckled. "Are you good?"

"No" You flopped back on the sofa and groaned.

"Have that"

You looked to your left. "Oh, you got me medicines. How nice"

"I didn't. It was already there"

You frowned. "Really?"

He hummed. "Maybe you got them yourself"

"I don't remember anything"

"Yeah..."

"you neither?"

"Nope"

"Let's never drink like that again"

"You said that too when..."

"Tss"

Cale rolled his eyes.

"Did you talk to him?"

Your cheeks warmed. "I just told you I don't remember anything"

"We did the shots for courage!"

"Shut up!"

Cale was laughing so hard that he almost spilt his cereal. "I really hope I didn't embarrass myself in front of him. He barely knows me. Just imagine the first impression he got from me is my drunk self."

"Mikko is a mess himself. He was probably drunker."

"Still! I don't want him to see me like that! I wanted to give a good impression!"

How wrong you were. The first time Mikko had seen you, you were walking like a goddess dressed in that AVs jersey. He thought you were perfect. But no one knew that, of course.

"YN. I'm sure you did nothing wrong"

Meanwhile. Mikko couldn't stop thinking about how you had literally asked him to fuck you. He was trying so hard to convince himself that it was just the alcohol. It probably got you horny. It had nothing to do with him.

"I hope I didn't. Imagine if I embarrassed myself in front of that man"

"Disgusting." Cale got up and left.

Days passed and neither of you heard from the other. Until some Thursday in the showers.

"Yeah. YN will arrive later from work but she said it's okay" Cale told Nate. "Told her we would wait for her"

"Yeah, no problem" Nate left the showers talking about how he would order the pizza.

Mikko tried to not pay much attention.

"Hey"

"Hey" He looked at Cale.

"We are hanging out at mine. Some of us. I think Nate, JT and Bo. Are you coming?"

Mikko stopped the water and pretended he wasn't really nervous.

"Sure"

"My friend YN will be there. She is staying at mine for a while".

"Oh, I didn't know she was here" Mikko said drying his chest. He wrapped the towel around himself.

"She got a new job. Remember that night when she came with us?"

"Mhm" She asked me to fuck her. I do remember that night.

"That was her first week here."

"Cool. She looks nice"

Cale smiled and nodded. What Mikko didn't know is that he had a plan to get his attention to you. Even when it wasn't necessary.

"Yeah, come home tonight."

"Yeah, I'll be there"

And there he was when you opened the door with a little blonde boy on his lap. The house was full. The guys and their partners were there. What at first it was going to be just Cale and 3-4 friends, was now a full gathering.

"YN" Your best friend caught you standing there and gave you a sweet smile, probably apologizing for the mess.

"Hey, bub" You kissed his cheek and tried to ignore the hard beating of your heart. Mikko was looking at you.

"How was it?"

"I'm really tired, but all good" You patted his chest. "I'm gonna say hi to everyone."

You knew everyone but the little blonde kids that were in the sofa. "Those are Gabe's kids. Last time thing" Cale whispered.

"They are the cutest" You squeaked. The boy was sitting on Mikko's lap while his mum tried to feed him, but he was fighting the spoon for dear life.

"Yeah. And you want him to..."

You slapped Cale's chest. "Shut the fuck up"

"YN!"

Someone called your name and you knew that it was time to say hi. The hardest one was obviously Mikko. But not only for you. He saw you sitting next to him and he almost chocked.

"Hi cutie" You told the little boy. "Ow, you just look like your dad" You caressed his cheek and he giggled. Soon, his sister Linnea was there looking for attention. "And you are so pretty!"

Mikko was watching in awe and barely noticed when the boy started crying.

"Oh, hey. What's wrong?" You sweetly asked him.

"He is sleepy" Linnea said.

"Oh yeah?"

"I'll call Gabe" Mikko said. He wanted to get out...

But you carefully picked the baby and brought him closer to you. "I'll go, if that's okay"

"Yeah, that's perfect" He smiled at you and wow, your checks started burning.

"Hi to you too. I got a bit distracted."

"Don't worry, I understand" He chuckled. "And welcome to the city. I had no idea you were here"

"Thank you very much."

It had been a simply conversation, but when you passed the little sleepy boy to his parents and went to change into comfier clothes, you were shaking. You had to take deep breaths.

When you came out there was already pizza and people sitting everywhere. And obviously, little innocent blush boy Cale had left you to sit right next to Mikko.

It was the most uncomfortable dinner ever. You stayed there eating your pizza in silence and listening to everyone. Then when the food was gone, Mikko and you were still sitting close.

"How's work? Do you like it?" He asked turning to you. He liked how you looked with your comfy clothes and your messy hair.

You smiled. "I love it"

"That's great." He nodded and drank from his soda.

You looked down at your hands.

"It is. I'm just getting used to it and meeting new people and everything." You told him.

"You can tag along with us whenever you want" He said in a low voice. "I hope Cale has already told you that"

You nodded looking at your friend, who was too inmersed in a conversation with Bo about something on their phones.

"I almost tag along with you guys on the celebrations" You told him.

Mikko smiled so big.

"Oh yeah?"

"Mhm. But my old job... Those pricks had to sent me on a trip to Europe just when my bestie made his dreams come true."

"Cunts" Mikko chuckled.

You laughed and nodded. "The biggest ones"

Mikko looked around. No one was paying attention to you two.

"I thought you were Cale's girlfriend at first." He confessed with some blush creeping up to his cheeks. It didn't go unnoticed by you. "Well, Bo told me actually. He said you were Cale's girl"

Your mind was running so fast. What was the big deal? He though you were Caleb's girlfriend and got jealous? Did he got jealous of Cale because of you? Why would he be bothered by it?

"I have always been, kind of. We have been best friends for ages and it always passed for a relationship. I don't know how many times I have clarified that we are not dating. I'm lucky he is not a scary guy. I'd still be a virgin"

Mikko swallowed. Would Cale have something against him?

"He is so scary. What are you saying? Look at that baby face. It's terrifying"

You laughed out loud and everyone looked.

"What's so funny?" Nate asked.

"We are talking about how scary Cale is" Mikko said. "She said he is not. But c'mon guys. Look at him"

"Yeah, that kid face is..." Gabe faked goosebumps.

"You all suck"

"Actually, I have so many pics of baby Cale. I will look for them guys"

Mikko elbowed you. "We will host a party for that, okay? It can be at mine"

Cale smiled proud when he saw how comfortable you were around Mikko and how interested he was in you. For the rest of the night, you two sat together in your own bubble and even teammed up for playing video games.

"Why do you look at her like that?" Cale whispered behind Mikko while everyone was saying goodbye.

Mikko blushed deeply.

"I'm not"

Cale chuckled.

"Listen, she is single and she is amazing. Go for it if you want to"

Mikko blinked slowly. "Cale, are you okay?"

"Perfect." He chuckled. "I'll distract the others. Go and give her your number"

Mikko felt nervous. Why was he so nervous?

You were saying goodbye to a very sleepy Linnea. The girl was leaning on her dad's shoulder.

"I'll see you soon, yeah?"

She smiled and you said goodbye with your hand before the Landeskog left.

"Can you believe I have played with Gabriel Landeskog kids tonight?" You asked and turned. "Oh. I thought it was Cale." You said shying away.

"Pretty cool, huh?" Mikko chuckled.

You nodded. "I'm a fan, what can I say" You explained.

"An Avs fan or a Gabe fan?"

"Can you be one without being the other?" You asked back with a smirk.

"Good answer." He leaned against the frame. "Do you have your phone in there?"

"Um... Yeah. Here, why?" You asked showing him.

"Unlock it"

You did with a frown in your face and then complained when he smoothly stole it from your hand.

"Shh" He said while writing something down. "Here. Just in case"

Mikko smiled when he passed you the phone and your heart got wild when you saw he had given you his number. "Oh"

Mikko took a step closer and cupped your face before leaning and pressing a soft kiss in your forehead for the second time since he met you. But you didn't know that.

"Have a good night. And... See you in the game."

"Yeah. See you. Bye" You said dumbfounded.

"Bye, YN"

Once everyone had left, Cale grabbed you by your shoulders and shook you. "A kiss!"

"A kiss. I'm going to faint. Shit. Fucking shit."

Your best friend chuckled and hugged you. "You have him wrapped around your finger"

"I don't..."

"You do. And you are wearing his jersey to the game"

"I... No, I can't..."

"YN"

"Cale"

"Fine"

Then three days later, Cale dropped his tie when he heard you shouting his name. You had asked him for a jersey to wear on the game. You were expecting a Makar jersey. But once you opened the bag and checked it...

"I'm going to kill you" You walked in his room. "I'm going to fucking kill you. How was I so stupid!? Of course you would do this."

Rantanen. 96.

"What?! You asked for a jersey"

"One of yours!"

Cale giggled. "You are a bitch, Makar"

Still, you wore it. You could have gotten some other from a corner in the house. But you wore it. The Rantanen written in your back seemed to be burning your skin. Even when you knew it wasn't possible, you were fully aware you were wearing it. That's why you didn't took the jacket off in the arena, claiming that it was cold even though you had enough layers to not need it.

Some of the girls watching the game with you were worried, Melissa even checked your temperature. But you shook your head and told them it was fine. At least both have that A on the chest and one could pass for the other.

They ended up loosing. Which left you kind of defeated because they had played so well.

As you waited for Cale to come out, one of the girls talked about going for dinner somewhere or at someone's to cheer the boys a bit. "Come with us, yeah?"

You nodded with a smile.

"Hey, bub" Cale appeared and hugged you.

"Hi" You kissed his cheek and gave him a big squeeze. "You were great tonight, bub"

"Thank you" He sadly smiled.

You caressed his cheeks.

"Do you know if..." You started slowly. Cale chuckled and pinched your cheek.

"He is inside."

"But he is fine, right?"

Mikko had gotten in a fight, nothing to serious, but you were worried.

"He is."

Cale drove you to Nate's, who had offered the house for those who wanted to have a couple of beers and forget about the game. They didn't have another one in a few days so it was fine.

"I'm at Nate MacKinnon's"

Cale chuckled. "You are friends with the Avs"

"If you tell me this some years ago, I wouldn't have believed you"

"Take that jacket off"

"No"

"Whats the point of wearing his jersey if he is not going to see it?"

"We only texted once because I sent him a pic of you and that was only yesterday"

"You what?"

"This is not about you, Makar"

He rolled his eyes. "Just... He likes you, I promise. He is my friend and I trust him. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't."

You sighed and your eyes softened. "I know. It's just a lot. I've had a crush on him for ages"

"I can't believe you didn't come here sooner" Cale said.

"Well, I wasn't available. I would have come with you without doubt"

"Yeah. I know."

"Take your time. But if you really want it go for it."

You nodded and looked at the house.

You had never been there but soon they made you feel at home, just like everyone else. You had been talking to the girls for a while while the boys were in the backyard.

Mikko couldn't avoid watching you. You still had your jacket on even though the house was warm. Even outside was warm. But he didn't think much about it. He could only think about how beautiful you were and how welcomed you were in the group and how much he would like you to be there with him.

The guys were playing some beer pong like fucking kids. But they were having fun, something they needed after the game. It wasn't his turn, so he was just standing there with a beer on his hand when he saw you getting up. You came back only a couple of minutes later and your jacket was gone. He couldn't see it, but your cheeks were pink because of the looks and smiles the girls were giving you. He couldn't hear what you were saying either.

"Don't say anything. It was all Cale. He probably grabbed the wrong one by mistake" You tried to explain even though not even you could believe the lie.

Then you turned around and Mikko chocked on his beer.

"Dude" Artturi laughed. "Man, are you good?"

He was having a cough fit but couldn't keep his eyes off you.

"Cale" He said.

He turned around. "What?"

"Come here for a second"

They walked away from the others.

"What the fuck is that?" He pointed at YN.

"My best friend"

"And why does she have my jersey?"

"She asked for one for the game"

Mikko's heart wanted to jump out of his chest.

"One of mine?"

"One in general. She likes to match with us. She is so nice that she offered to pay..."

"Why did you give her mine?"

Mikko was stressed. He was having so many thoughts, so many theories, that he couldn't process them all.

"It happened to be yours"

"Bullshit" Mikko pointed at him. "I will only ask once. What's going on? You tell me to give her my number. You tell me to go for it. You give her my jersey. What are you doing?"

Cale took a deep breath and grabbed Mikko by his shoulders. "She likes you. And you like her."

"Man"

"Mikko. I know it"

"And what do I do? I don't know her. I just know she is so fucking beautiful and has a great sense of humor and she..."

Cale let him ramble about all the things that Mikko had caught from you.

"Okay, enough reasons. Go and talk to her. That's enough."

Mikko took a deep breath and waited and waited until he saw you walking into the kitchen. He decided to go in too, but using the garden's door instead to not make it so obvious. You heard the click when he closed it behind him and turned around to see who it was. You face heated up and your heart rate skyrocketed when you saw him there. You couldn't hide now.

He was smirking. That little bitch.

"Hey, YN"

"Hi, Mikko" You shyly said.

He smiled and moved closer. The stutter in your breath didn't scape his eye.

"You look good" He simply said. He could do better, yes. But his mind was going too fast to focus.

"T-thank you. It was Cale... I think it was a mistake or..."

Mikko laughed and you stopped talking. "I believe he did it on purpose, YN."

"Oh, yeah. Probably. He is a bitch. The shy and boring facade is just that..."

Mikko laughed again and leaned against the counter.

"But really, you look good. The color suits you"

"Thank you" You muttered.

"It's really a pity the game went like that"

"You played good. And won that fight."

That was a bit of an ego boost. He wouldn't deny it.

"Yeah."

"That guy really had nothing to do. Like... Why would a guy as tall as a 5 years old kid want to fight this really big Finnish guy." You giggled, which he found amusing. "You did good" You patted his chest.

"Thank you"

You opened the beer can and took a sip. For courage.

Mikko watched you closely. "Do you mind if I take that away?"

"What?"

"The last time you drank around me I had to carry Cale and you home." He said with a grin.

You gasped.

"What?"

"You don't remember" Mikko said.

"No. No. What did I do?" You ran tour hands through your hair with distress in your face.

Mikko bit his lip. "You got lost and fell asleep on some random sofa"

"I didn't embarrass myself, right?"

Mikko thought that he would keep the fact that you asked him to fuck you for himself.

"Not much, no. Don't worry about that." He touched your chin and you looked down flustered.

"So... The water and Tylenol was you"

"Mhm."

"You didn't got one for Cale, tho" You said with a grin.

"Well, he went directly to bed. Plus, he didn't remember where you were."

"He deserved the headache then"

Mikko nodded with a laugh.

You bit your lip. He was so perfect.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yeah"

"When you told me you though Cale and I were dating... Were you jealous?"

Mikko froze. Was it that obvious?

"Kind of?"

Your heart skipped a beat. "Oh"

"I thought you were really beautiful. You should have seen yourself that day" He said already knowing how flustered he would get you. "But then you were wearing an 8 in your back. Ouch." He said pretending to grab his heart. It made you giggle and look down at your hands.

"I'm wearing a 96 now, aren't I?"

Mikko looked at you with an incredulous smile. Well, I have to do something, right?

He took a step and cornered you against the refrigerator. You panted and looked up at his baby blue eyes. He must be the most beautiful man in the world. Mikko grinned at your reaction and felt flattered by the way you were looking at him. Cale may be right.

It was funny how you, in a desperate action, got in your tip toes and grabbed him by the back of his neck. Your lips clashed and you both sighed in relief. You may just knew each other from only a couple of times, but the chemistry was so real.

Mikko cupped your face with his big hands and deepened the kiss. You were trapped between his big body and the fridge, his hips pressing you into it. Not that you complained. The kiss was slow and deep and it felt as if you had kissed a thousand times already. You just knew that you didn't want to stop. Your wandering hands told him when they sneaked under his shirt and timidly felt the skin on his lower back. It encouraged him you tilt your head up and kiss all over your face and neck, nibbling your earlobe and then gracefully finding that sensitive spot in your neck. Your knees were a jelly mess by the time he pecked your lips and pulled back to look into your eyes. Mikko had you right were he wanted to and he was really proud of himself.

"You are perfect" He whispered.

You smiled and pulled him for another kiss.

"Come home with me tonight"

Your eyes opened like plates and a soft gasp left your lips. Your legs clenched and a shot of electricity ran over your body.

"Okay" A smile escaped your lips.

Mikko smiled so big and kissed yoy again. "Just tell me when you want to leave"

You nodded and bit your lip.

Mikko and you exchanged some kisses before parting ways. The girls obviously commented about your messy hair and silly smile. On the other hand, Cale received Mikko with a big hug.

"Hey" EJ pushed Mikko slightly. "Is YN wearing your jersey?"

The thought of the guys knowing, but also the ideas he had in mind for later, make Mikko blush and grin. "She is"

"And why is that?" EJ elbowed him with a silly smile. At the end, everyone already knew about Mikko's obvious crush on Cale's best friend.

"I'm just a lucky guy, I suppose" He said with a side.

Through the glass, his eyes connected to yours and Mikko smile. "You were right, Cale. You were so right"

"You are so damn lucky, man" Cale said and patted his shoulder.

[bitchinbarzal]

Could you write prompt 14 ”you’re the most important thing for me” for Mikko Rantanen? Love your writing❤️

You felt like you’d been hit by a truck but you couldn’t be happier.

All the pain, the screaming and the tears were all worth it when you saw the scene infront of you.

Mikko was holding Lumi’s tiny body in his hands, she fit right into his hands.

“Sweet girl, you’re the most important thing to me. Welcome to the world Lumi” he mumbles, his pointer finger tracing her bottom lip as she pouts in her sleep.

From the moment you found out you were pregnant he had been praying for a babygirl. You’d been so convinced you were having a little boy but the moment the balloon popped and pink confetti spread out across your backyard and you saw the elation on his face you had never been so happy to be proved wrong.

Now she was here and everything had fallen into place, he was holding his girl, his whole world in his hands

“You’re my world Lu, my whole world”

[jostystyles]

it’s tyson tuesday!

aka my favorite day of the week. yes i know it’s monday but i’ve been missing mr jost lately and feel like he could use some love, so i am making an executive decision to celebrate tyson tuesday <3

send me any thoughts you have about him in general. y’all know i love to talk about him

pick a prompt (limit of 2 per ask) from this list and i’ll write a short blurb/drabble about him!

send me a topic/theme and i’ll make a moodboard

make me choose: send me a situation and another player/person/character and i have to choose between them and josty

send me a number and i’ll post that pic in my camera roll of him <3

for every song you send, i’ll give one that reminds me of him

give me a song lyric/theme and i’ll make a lockscreen of him

literally anything and everything josty. we’re giving him the spotlight he deserves.

tagging some fellow josty brian rotters:

@suitandtys @comphyjost @xsyntheticsensation @fallinallincurls @matbaerzal @senditcolton @josttyson @quietblues @mrs-mikko-rantanen @kailyn-writes @holy-pucks