Back On My Feet Again
There was something exhilarating about stepping back onto the ice for the first time. The roar of the crowd as Jackson stepped out with his team, his heart pounding in his chest. After spending a couple weeks of practice getting used to skating again as well as his physical therapy appointments, he finally got to play in a game.
And what a game it was. Jackson already felt like he was on top of the world as he warmed up but then his line was called. Getting to skate with Zhenya again felt like he was finally able to breath again, a lightness spreading through his body as he passed the puck to his boyfriend. It was as if he had never left the ice, both of them still on that same wavelength.
They were tied 2-2 in the last few minutes of the final period when their line was called out again. Jackson felt as though his heart was going to pound out of his chest as the puck got close to Kasey. Then like Superman there to save the day, Zhenya swooped in, stealing the puck right from under the Badger player’s nose.
Jackson followed after him as quickly as he could, preparing for a pass as they made their way to the Badgers’ goal. He knew they’d have to be fast, the other team’s goalie was good, blocking so many of their attempts that game.
“Nado!”
He was ready and prepared luckily as Zhenya shot the puck across the ice to him, and he was off. His eyes were on the goal, but just when the Badgers thought they had him, he shot it to Zhenya without even looking. Thrown off by the sudden change, no one expected the goal horn to go off.
Zhenya had gotten it in. They won. The team was piling on the ice, and Nado couldn’t hide the massive grin as he slammed into Zhenya first.
“We still got it.” Jackson said with a laugh as he looked up at Zhenya. The entirety of their team had them pinned to the boards, he was pretty sure he had Talker’s elbow pressed into his back and someone else’s knee in the back off his leg but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
He should’ve expected that the press would be on him as soon as he got to the locker room. With it being his first game back as well as having an assist with the final point of the game, it wasn’t surprising. Zhenya didn’t like talking to the press, so usually once he got sick of them asking him questions, he’d just start answering them in Russian.
Luckily for Jackson, it seemed Marlene was leading the pack today with questions.
“So Nado, first game back and it’s a win! How’re you feeling?” She asked, a grin on her face as she held out the mic.
Letting out a shaky laugh, Jackson wiped a towel over his face, “Honestly, I’m feeling really good. It’s been a rough couple months but to finally get back on the ice with my boys, there’s nothing better.”
Marlene nodded, “I can imagine, it must’ve been hard. But if it’s consolation, you looked great out there. And that assist at the end, beautiful! You didn’t even have to look when you hit that shot over to Kuny.”
“Yeah, Zh- Kuny and I have played together for awhile on the same line. We’re just on the same wavelength, felt like I didn’t need to look to see where he was. I already knew.” Jackson’s eyes flickered up to Zhenya who was standing at his stall behind the group of press, watching. “I’m just lucky he was actually there.” As soon as Zhenya caught Jackson’s eyes, he went cross-eyed, sticking his tongue out. Jackson couldn’t help the laugh he let out, quickly covering his face with his towel.
Marlene glanced back at Zhenya, giving him a glare but it was nothing but fond, “Well we better let you go celebrate with your team. Congrats again, Nado.” She said, giving him a smile before leading the rest of the press out.
As soon as they were out, Zhenya reached over, pulling him close, “Get distracted during interview?”
Jackson rolled his eyes as he laughed, carefully going up on his tiptoes so he could press a kiss to Zhenya’s cheek, “Yeah, babe. Wonder why that happened.” He said, his cheeks beginning to ache from how much he was smiling as he stepped back to his stall.
“That was a gorgeous goal tonight though, both of you.” Remus said as he came back from the showers.
Zhenya grinned, “Thanks, Loops.”
Nodding, Remus made his way over to his stall, “How’s the leg feeling, Nado? Any aches or anything?” He asked, pulling on a pair of boxers as he balanced precariously on one foot.
“It’s good, Loops. Nothing more than after game soreness right now, I promise.” Nado said with a smile, sitting on the bench as he got changed into his street clothes.
Remus hummed to himself softly, looking up at the other man, “Well, just make sure you’re doing your stretches and-” He was cut off as Cap threw his towel at his fiance’s face.
“Mon loup, I’m sure if Nado needs your help, he’ll ask. But he already has his own PT, babe.” Sirius said, pressing a kiss to the top of Remus’s head as he walked by.
Nado sent a grateful glance Cap’s way as he threw his hoodie on. He knows Remus means well, but he already gets texts from Hestia, the PT for the team, making sure he was doing his stretches every day. He didn’t also need it from his teammate.
“Ready?” Zhenya asked, pulling a snapback on over his messy post-game hair.
Grabbing his own bag, Jackson nodded and they said their good-byes before heading to the parking garage. After tossing their bags in the backseat, Jackson moved to climb into the car before he was tugged back again.
Zhenya pulled him close, their bodies pressed together as he rested his forehead on the shorter man’s, “You did so good, котенок.” He murmured, pressing a kiss to the tip of Jackson’s nose.
A pretty blush spread across Jackson’s face as he leaned into his boyfriend, unable to stop the smile from growing as he looked up, “I just have some really good teammates.” He said with a shrug, his arms coming to wrap around Zhenya’s waist.
“No no, you did good because you are good. So proud of you.” Zhenya murmured before leaning in for a gentle kiss. Jackson knew he probably looked like a tomato, the blush spreading down his neck and probably the entirety of his body. Zhenya had a habit of doing that to him, not that he was complaining.
As he pulled away from the kiss, Jackson smiled up at his boyfriend, his hands gently caressing the sharp line of his jaw, “Love you so much, Zhenya.”
“Love you, my котенок. Forever and always.”