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blackbat05 · 1 year

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Real or Not Real?

Miguel O’Hara x Reader

Plot: You need a plus one for a wedding. Who better than your boss and perhaps the most hated person on your list.

Genre: PG-13, Enemies to Lovers (I would like to think so😬)

A/N: I’m on a roll. Also, I always wanted to do this trope! This is longer than usual. Reblogs and feedback appreciated!💜

“Shit!” Your phone bounces off the bed, landing inches away from another expensive repair.

“What’s wrong?” Jessica Drew looks up from the self help book that she was currently engaged in.

“An old classmate. I totally forgot about the wedding!” You groan, feet becoming more fidgety by the second.

“Right… and would you care to explain why you look like one of Norman Osborn’s pumpkins?” Your best friend looks at you cautiously, as if like you were a volcano waiting to explode any second.

“Well, she used to be great with everyone in school. Can’t say the same about myself.” You winced internally at the memories about your youth. “You know how it is. Everyone is either rich, successful or in love once they leave school.”

“Or maybe all three.” Jessica adds helpfully much to your chagrin.

“Thanks, Jess.” You refrain from rolling your eyes. “Anyways, the chat group got reignited and some genius started asking about ‘the girl who everyone always see but doesn’t really know’ and before I know it, everyone starts pestering me about how I’m doing!” You throw your hands dramatically in the air and Jessica can’t help but to look amused. “So?”

“So, I kinda told them that I have a reallyhotboyfriend.” The last few words are mashed into one big mess but still clear enough for Jessica to pick up. “You what now?”

Smelling the judgement from a mile away, you hang your head in defeat. “I know! I’m an idiot! I couldn’t help myself okay? This is what happens when you attend a private all girls’ school. You stand out for being weird and suddenly The Plastics start making your entire school life hell.”

“The Plastics?”

“It’s a movie reference.”

“Why am I not surprised.” Jessica chuckles. “So what now girl? How’s damage control going?”

“Terrible.” You splat face first into the pillow. “I was thinking of getting help from the guys but…” You hold up four fingers, ticking them off one by one. “Pavitr can’t pretend, Hobie’ too unpredictable, Miles is too young and Peter’s married with a child - a fact I can’t ignore even if this is fake.”

Jessica looks at your closed fingers, tapping her chin thoughtfully. If being friends with her taught you anything, this wasn’t a good sign.

“There is one more option. I think he would fit your description of a really hot boyfriend.” She deliberately gives you a meaningful look that makes you leap off the bed, throwing her an accusing look.

“Actually, I think I’m going to ask Gwen. Do you know where I can find her?”

“Long gone. She went to visit Captain Stacey.” Jessica quips. “Come on. He’s a good option. Besides, this is a great opportunity to know him better!”

“I rather tangle with the loch-ness monster instead.” You mumble, thinking about your very first encounter with the man of the hour - Miguel O’Hara. The two of you were a good representation of day and night.

While you were bright and upbeat, the leader of the Spider Society probably didn’t have the word ‘joy’ in his dictionary. As you attempted to introduce yourself to him at your first meeting, he had simply brushed you aside.

“Miguel isn’t that bad once you get to know him.”

“Very funny, Jess. You should be comedian of the year. Did you forget how he yelled at me when I pushed him out of the way from Kingpin’s gangbangers?”

Jessica opens her mouth slightly, only to shut it soon after. You frown, turning your back to see whatever she was staring at behind you. How you wished you hadn’t. Oh, if only the ground could swallow you whole as Miguel himself stands at the door, staring at you with an unreadable expression.

“What- how long have you been here for?” You struggle to form that one sentence. “Jess…” You start accusingly.

Jessica shrugs, taking Miguel’s presence as a sign to leave. “I’ll leave you two to it!” She gives you a wink that results in your mouth hanging agape. Miguel closes the door and you quickly attempt to compose yourself.

“I’ll do it.”

“Do what?”

Miguel raises a brow. “Be your date.” He says it all too nonchalantly, as if choosing at empanada at the supermarket. You blink, pinching yourself out of his sight. The situation was very real. He stands in front of you, waiting.

“What do you want from me?” You blurt out. “You want something in return.” You clarify once more, trying to make sense of things.

The end of Miguel’s lips turn upwards slightly, and you’re worried that the sudden acceleration of your heart would unable to support your body to stand upright.

“I just want to apologize for my behavior and I happened to overhear your conversation.” He responds and you make a mental note to never trust Jessica again for not warning you about his presence.

“Am I in some kind of alternate dimension?” You laugh, trying to defuse the awkwardness. Miguel remains impassive, eyes staring intently into yours.

“What’s it going to be? You can take me or you can look like a liar to everyone. It’s your choice.”

You hate to say it, but he’s right.

***

“You came!” Your old friend comes barreling into you, giving you a big hug.

“Lils! You look amazing!” You gushed, returning the hug. “Congratulations. What a beautiful place.” You refer to the beachside wedding that she insisted on.

“Thanks! Jeju Island was always on my bucket list. I’m so glad I get to share this memory with all of you!” She gushes, turning to your plus one. “I mean, I finally get to see who has stolen your heart!” She extends a hand. “And who may you be?”

“Miguel O’Hara.” He extends his own hand for a shake. “Congratulations.”

“No need for the formalities!” Lilly smiles brightly. “What I do want to know is how you two got together! You can be away from her for a little can’t you?”

Before the two of you can even say anything, you find yourself being pulled away by Lilly while the groom effortlessly picks up the conversation with Miguel. She brings you aside, within the sight of the two men.

“Tell me everything!” She pounces on you like a tiger, demanding to know your first encounter. You give what you hope was a easy smile. “We’re… colleagues.” You don’t think exposing both your superhero personas would do well, not especially when you got here by inter dimensional traveling.

Your friend seems to be satisfied by this as she squeals. She hits your shoulder a little too aggressively, wanting more. You sigh, hoping that Miguel wasn’t being interrogated this intensively on his end.

“We just had the same interests and kind of clicked.” You prayed that the questioning would stop soon. “Everything was just a blur after.”

Lilly nods, throughly invested in your fake love story. She’s about to ask another question when a sharp voice pierced through the air, causing you to be rooted to the ground. You really wanted to run away at that moment.

“What is this that I’m hearing? You’re actually seeing someone?” The clack of heels come to a stop and you find yourself facing your tormentor.

“It’s nice to see you too, Becca.” You grit through your teeth. The woman remains oblivious to your discomfort as she addresses the two others trailing behind her. “I wonder who’s the lucky man nice enough to pick her up!”

“That’s enough, I invite you to my wedding out of our friendship but this doesn’t give you the right to insult her.” Lilly shoots back, keeping her eyes trained on your curled fists.

“It’s alright, Lils.” You try to remain calm. “Let’s go. I’ll tell you everything later.” You take the lead to escort her back when Becca’s comment brings you to a halt.

“I bet he isn’t even real!”

Although she was right, you couldn’t help but to turn around, wanting to give Becca and her posse a piece of your mind. Something that you should have done a very long time ago.

“Oh, I’m very real alright.”

You see Miguel walking up towards the trio. Was it just you or did Miguel look… angry?

He composes himself, giving a charming grin to the trio who looked like they were going to start falling at his feet any moment.

“Miguel O’Hara. She has told me a lot about you three.”

“Oh, she has?” Becca twirls the edge of her skirt nervously and you don’t know where Miguel is going with this.

“Sure. She’s told me all about how you three dimwits made her entire life hell. Honestly? I don’t even know how that happened when she’s a hundred times classier with more substance than you plastics claim to have.” Miguel catches your eye and gives a quick wink.

“Excuse me?” Becca stutters. “Oh, I get it. She must have paid you to say that!”

Miguel walks over and gently loops an arm over your shoulders. By now, the conversation seemed to have attracted every guest who were lining up at the buffet table.

“Nope. But you know what she is? She is the most courageous and selfless person who wouldn’t hesitate to help others. I don’t think you three would even come close to understanding what that means.”

Miguel has done it. He’s left them speechless and every guest is know giving disapproving looks to the trio who can only storm away in embarrassment.

“I think I’m not that hungry yet. How about we take a walk?”

You realize that Miguel is asking you, so you nod numbly and find yourself being led out of the venue. You see Lilly standing at the entrance greeting guests.

Catching your eyes, she gives you a thumbs up and a mischievous grin, not bothered at all about the verbal altercation that was inadvertently caused by you. Amidst the chaos, one thought was clear in your mind.

Just what is going on?

***

The rainbow colored blocks providing as seats for families, friends and couples to take photos makes the sea look even clearer. Silence overtaking the two of you, you busy yourself with noticing how the jagged edges of the rocks are a wonderful addition to the waves crashing near the shore.

“What’s going on up there?”

Finally. You prepare yourself, stopping beside the statue. “I was just about to ask you the same thing O’Hara.” You take a brave step closer towards the hulking man and he briefly looks away before staring back at you. “Not that I’m ungrateful but that wasn’t like you.”

“Then, what am I supposed to be?”

You paused. “Well… you’re supposed to be grumpy and grouchy and keeping me at arm’s length I guess?” You search for the right words as Miguel contains a chuckle seeing how flustered you were becoming by the second. “And you’re suddenly being nice to me? Hell would have to freeze over.”

Miguel closes the already small gap between the two of you and you suddenly feel hot at his gaze. He examines you for a while and you think he’s about to deliver another sharp retort.

“I did try. I tried to keep you away but you were too bright and cheerful for your own good.” Miguel gruffly tells you. “You were so much like her.”

You knew that he was referring to his past. His wife whom no one really dared to talk about. You finally understood. To him, you were a walking and living painful reminder.

“I’m sorry.” You breathed out. The air suddenly constricts in your lungs and you feel the need to get away. Anywhere but here. You turn around and find yourself being pulled into him. Miguel hugs you, and he hugs you tight.

“No, I’m the idiot. I punished you for seeing you as someone else.” He confesses. “I should have just seen you as… you. You were so bright and so brave, I almost lost it when you took the bullets from Kingpin. That’s when I knew my behavior had to stop. I wanted to tell you and I guess I saw this as the perfect opportunity.”

“Oh.” You don’t know how else to react to this sudden revelation.

“But I meant every word. About me apologizing for my past behavior.” Miguel continues. “And that. Earlier on.” He refers to his relentless counter attack on your tormentors. “I didn’t know that you had to go through all that.”

“Hey, we all go through things right? Kind of a ticket to join the spider society.” You try to lighten things up. “Besides, it’s nothing big.”

Miguel pries you away gently, a slight frown on his face. “Don’t minimize your struggles. You are a hundred times stronger than those three combined. After all, that’s what made you stood out to me in the first place.”

Your heart swells at his statement. As you hear the waves crashing, it felt as if like it gave you a sense of newfound confidence as well. It was all or nothing now. You’re inches away from Miguel, his rosy cheeks prominent from the strong breeze that the coastal city offered. “I just have one more question.”

Miguel cocks his head to the side, curious. He doesn’t interrupt, giving permission for you to go ahead.

“You love me. Real or not real?”

He takes you by the waist, lips on yours. It could be minutes or hours before he lets go, leaving you in a daze. But the movement of his lips are as clear as day. One that would be forever etched in your memory.

“Real.”

#miguel o'hara #miguel o’hara x reader #spiderman 2099 #spiderman: across the spiderverse

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gotham--fc · 4 months

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Famille - A Marie-Philip Poulin Imagine

Not requested! R is 16 and gets her first call up to Team Canada and Poulin takes her under her wing

This is probably the first in a series about baby!r and moms!poulin and stacey, this one is more pou focused but there's some stacey moments in there too, hope you enjoy!

Words: 5k

“Couple of new names on this roster,” Laura says. Pou hums distractedly. Laura walks over to where Pou is sitting and leans over the back of the couch to see what her fiancée is watching on her phone. It’s a blurry video of some hockey game.

“What are you watching?” Laura asks, wrapping her arms around Pou from behind.

“That girl, number 17, she’s on the roster.”

“Yeah, what about her? Is she good?”

Pou shifts a little on the couch.

“She’s 16,” Pou says, “She’s still in high school.”

“Right,” Laura says, realizing who “that girl” is, “She’s the one who’s younger than you were when you made your debut, right? By a few months?” Pou nods. “Everyone rates her really highly, do you remember if she’s committed to any colleges yet?”

“BU,” Pou says, “She… She’s so young. I was terrified when I got called up. So much pressure…”

“But you were okay, once you got there you were fine,” Laura says, “Everyone was nice to you and made it easier. We’re all gonna do that for her too, for all the rookies. We’re not monsters, we’ll make everyone feel welcomed.”

“Yeah…” Pou says, “I know we will.”

***

Laura doesn’t think much about their conversation until later.

When camp begins, Pou always waits in the hotel lobby for all the rookies. She’s the captain and she takes her role seriously and she feels it’s important to meet everyone and make sure they’re settling in well. She makes sure everyone has their room assignments and that they’re okay with who they’re rooming with.

For their first camp, the team always makes sure a rookie is rooming with a vet. It makes the transition easier, helps them get the hang of things, and get involved with team things. Laura doesn’t really check the room assignments, except her own (she’s with Blayre). Laura waits with Pou while she waits for the rookies and helps direct them to their rooms and the gym and the conference room where the team meetings will be held.

She sees that rookie, the young one, come in and Pou beelines for her. She watches the girl’s face go through shock, excitement, nervousness, all the emotions a 16-year-old has meeting Marie-Philip Poulin. She checks the sheet and almost laughs when she sees the girl’s rooming with Pou. Of course she is. Laura should know her fiancée better to know that she wouldn’t let something go once it gets in her head.

***

“Hello,” Pou says to the girl, who looks lost in the hotel. She looks at Pou and her eyes widen almost comically. “I’m Marie-Philip Poulin, we’re rooming together this camp. How are you feeling? Was the travel okay?”

“Um,” Y/N says, “Yeah.”

“Good.”

Pou has been told, rather teasingly, from Emma Maltais that people don’t shake hands anymore, so she doesn’t offer her hand to Y/N. Instead, she reaches out and pats her on the shoulder.

“You’re the last arrival,” Pou says. Y/N’s face drops.

“Oh no, is that bad? Am I late?”

“Non, non, you’re fine!” Pou is quick to reassure, “You had a later flight, that’s all. Come on, I’ll show you to our room.”

***

Y/N is nervous, that Pou can tell easily. It’s understandable, anyone would be nervous in her situation. Pou can see the way she picks at her nails, how her hands shake slightly as she takes the room key Pou hands her. Pou wants to be able to take her nervousness away, but she can’t. She can’t make the transition easier, she can’t make her stop worrying.

What Pou can do is be there. She hangs around their shared room while Y/N unpacks. She takes Y/N around the hotel, running into their other teammates and introducing them. She wants Y/N to go into the first practice knowing everyone.

It doesn’t seem to help. Y/N still seems as nervous, if not more, than when she first arrived. It’s not what Pou wants, and she thinks she knows what can help.

“There’s a public rink that’s not far,” Pou says, “If you want to, uh, stretch your legs after the flight.”

Y/N’s shoulders sag in relief.

***

The rink is not very far from the hotel, only a few blocks. It’s not super busy, but there’s still other people there. They don’t bring any of their gear with them, just their skates, and Pou brings a toque with her that she pulls low over her ears to try and get people not to recognize her.

(It doesn’t work.)

They skate around, not really talking for the first bit. Pou lets Y/N have a few laps, waits for her shoulders to drop completely, before she speeds up to skate side by side.

“You beat me,” Pou says, “You’re younger than I was when I made my debut,” Pou continues when Y/N gives her a confused look. “You beat my record.”

“I guess so,” Y/N says, “But just because I’m here doesn’t mean I’ll play.”

“Coach doesn’t call players up if he doesn’t intend to play them.”

Y/N doesn’t answer right away.

“You are very skilled,” Pou says, “You’re going to have a very good career. Maybe even better than mine.” Y/N scoffs. “It’s true!” Pou insists, “I’ve seen you play, you’re the best player on the ice no matter who you play with.”

“Yeah with the U18s,” Y/N shakes her head, “With my high school team. That’s hardly that impressive.”

“It’s impressive to me,” Pou says honestly, “I don’t want you to underestimate yourself. You might not find it very impressive, but I do and I’m happy that you’re here.”

Y/N doesn’t answer and they skate the rest of their time in silence.

***

At first, Pou can’t tell why she’s awake. All she knows is she doesn’t have to be up yet, and she wants to go back to sleep. Before she can, she hears sharp sniffles coming from the bed beside hers. She looks over, but it’s too dark to see, but she can definitely hear that Y/N is crying. She flips on the lamp beside her bed. Y/N startles, and tries to quickly wipe her face.

“Are you okay?” Pou asks, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Y/N says, her voice thick and nasally from her tears.

Pou’s heart breaks. She can remember her first camp, and crying alone in her bed and hoping her roommate wouldn’t wake up. She remembers feeling lost and out of place and missing home and feeling like she’s made the biggest mistake of her life. She gets out of bed and climbs in beside Y/N. She rubs between Y/N’s shoulder blades. Y/N freezes for a moment, then relaxes into the touch.

“I was terrified when I was your age,” Pou says, “I got on the ice for my first practice with the team and everyone skated, uh, round, uh, shapes around me.”

“Circles?”

“Oui,” Pou says, “Circles. And I felt out of place and like I wasn’t ready to be here. I cried too. My roommate was a heavy sleeper, so she didn’t wake up. I thought I had ruined my hockey career before it even started. But then I got better. I played better. And I made friends on the team.”

“Yeah, but you’re you,” Y/N says, “You’re, like, the greatest ever. I don’t think I’m ever gonna play like you. I just want to go home.”

“I know, patate,” Pou says, “I promise that everything will be alright. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t deserve to be.”

Y/N doesn’t say anything. Pou thinks back to their practice earlier.

“In our scrimmage today,” Pou says, “You passed to me, near the end, and I missed the net. That was one of the best passes I’ve ever gotten. I don’t know if you thought I missed because the pass wasn’t good, but I missed because I was tired and I was ready to be done practicing, so I wasn’t trying very hard. It was an amazing pass and you were so smart and so skilled to get past the defender and get that pass off. I was very impressed with you today.”

“Do you mean that?” Y/N asks in a small voice.

“Oui, I will never lie to you.”

Y/N falls asleep with her head resting in Pou’s lap, and Pou stays up the rest of the night, making sure she sleeps okay, and planning how to get her to see how amazing everyone else can see that she is.

***

Pou doesn’t want to be overbearing. She doesn’t want Y/N to feel pressured or overwhelmed. She also doesn’t want the girl to become too attached to her and then never make friends with their other teammates. She also doesn’t want to back off too much and make Y/N think Pou doesn’t like her, or is upset with her. It’s a tough balance.

On the bus, Pou sits with Laura because she always does, and she watches Y/N to see who she’ll sit with. Everyone has their usual seatmates and Pou understands that, but she doesn’t want Y/N to sit alone.

“I won’t be mad,” Laura whispers.

“What?”

“If you go sit with her,” Laura says, “I won’t be mad. I know you want to.”

“I don’t want her to sit alone,” Pou says, “She probably doesn’t want to sit with me. I’m just waiting to see who will sit with her.”

It’s Erin Ambrose who ends up sitting with her and Pou breathes a sigh of relief when Y/N doesn’t immediately shy away. Erin has that effect on people, she can make anyone feel at ease with her. Pou doesn’t watch them the whole bus ride, but she knows Laura spends more time talking to herself than to Pou. She can’t help it, she didn’t expect to feel so protective and caring over Y/N, but she does and she needs to make sure Y/N’s okay.

***

They play a couple of games this camp, against the US, because of course they do and Pou takes on her ‘captain’ role: making sure the rookies feel prepared, making sure everyone else feels prepared, watching more than enough film for the whole team herself, making sure she has the scouting report for every player on the US roster in case anyone has questions.

Two days before the game, in the quiet of their room after lights out, Y/N whispers:

“I don’t think I’ll dress. I don’t think coach will dress me.”

“Y/N,” Pou rolls over and can barely make out Y/N’s outline in the other bed, “Y/N,” she says again when Y/N doesn’t react the first time. She doesn’t react again, but Pou knows she’s not asleep. “You are a better player than you give yourself credit for. You have done very well this camp and you’ve earned your spot.”

Y/N doesn’t respond and Pou lets it go. She stays awake until she’s sure Y/N’s asleep, and then she stays up for a little longer to make sure Y/N’s sleeping peacefully.

The day before the game, Y/N hovers around their room after they wake up. Pou goes through her morning routine and prepares to head down to breakfast, but Y/N’s still in her pyjamas, sitting on her bed, staring at the wall.

“Y/N?” Pou asks, “Are you okay?” Y/N shrugs. Pou sits on the bed beside her. “What’s going on?”

“Can we go to that rink? The one we went to before?”

“Of course, mon petite lapinou,” Pou says, “After we eat, then we can go. Sound good?” Y/N nods.

Pou takes her normal spot at breakfast beside Laura. She leans over and kisses her, ignoring their teammates’ teasing. Pou is resolutely ignoring everyone else, when Laura nudges her. Pou looks up from her scrambled eggs and gives Laura a look that says what? I’m eating, and Laura nods her head to Pou’s other side. Y/N approaches, holding her breakfast in her hands. She walks up to Pou’s side.

“Can I sit here?” Y/N asks quietly.

“Oui, yes, of course,” Pou shifts so Y/N actually has space to sit beside her.

Pou’s a little surprised. Y/N normally sat with the other rookies, or at least with the younger girls. Pou takes a quick look and there’s empty seats at the other tables, so it’s not like Y/N didn’t have options. Jenner raises her eyebrows a little towards Y/N when she joins them, but she doesn’t say anything.

“Excited for the game tomorrow?” Erin Ambrose claps Y/N on the shoulder. Y/N seems to shrink into herself, her head dropping to her chest.

“Hey,” Laura interrupts before anyone can say anything else, “Jenny, didn’t you tell me you had a cute vid of June to show me?”

It’s a good distraction, Jenner is always down to gush about her kids, a million pictures and videos ready in her camera roll to show anyone who’s willing, and Ambrose can’t help but lean over too to see the video Jenner’s showing Laura. It gives Pou the chance to turn to Y/N without everyone else listening in.

“I don’t wanna talk about it,” Y/N says before Pou can say anything.

“It’s okay to be nervous,” Pou says.

“I don’t wanna talk about it,” Y/N says, almost pleadingly.

“Alright,” Pou turns back to her own breakfast, “You can talk to me about anything, when you’re ready,” Pou adds quickly.

Y/N eats in silence, the rest of the table leaving her be, either because they realize they should, or because Pou gives them a look when they go to talk to Y/N. When Pou finishes eating, she looks over and sees Y/N’s plate is empty too.

“You wanna go?” Pou asks. Y/N nods quickly.

They head to the public rink they went to before and it’s open, but it’s much quieter than when they were there before, most of the public not going skating this early in the morning. They skate a few laps, Y/N a few strides ahead of Pou. After a few laps, Y/N stops and turns around and Pou stops with her. Y/N’s eyes are filled with tears.

“I’m so scared,” Y/N says, “I feel like I’m gonna screw it all up. I don’t know what to do.”

Pou doesn’t hesitate to pull Y/N into her arms. Y/N hugs Pou back tightly and Pou shushes her as her shoulders shake. Pou waits for Y/N’s sobs to have lessened to a few sniffles.

“I know it’s scary, and I don’t blame you for what you feel,” Pou says, “What you’re doing is very hard and it’s very scary, and it’s also very impressive. It’s easy to feel like you’re not good enough, but you have to understand that you are sixteen, and this is your first time with us and most of us have been on the team for years and we’ve played at the highest level for years. None of that means we’re better than you, it means we have more experience and that we’re better at hiding what we really feel. I still feel terrified before a big game. At the Olympics I still feel the way I did at my first one, I just hide it better now. Everyone feels the way you do, and that’s okay.”

“I thought it was supposed to get better,” Y/N’s voice is muffled in Pou’s shoulder.

“It does. You get more experience, you learn what to do to calm yourself down, you learn to lean on your teammates and your friends and your family when you need to. You learn that a dumb friendly against the US is not an Olympic final, and you learn to find the joy in it all. I know you’re afraid that you’re going to mess up and that coach will think you’re not good enough for the team, and I am here to tell you that won’t happen. I’ve seen you play with the U18s and in high school and I’ve seen you play with us. You are very skilled and you have nothing to worry about. You’re going to make mistakes, you’re going to take dumb penalties, you’re going to miss a shot or a pass or someone is going to skate around you and make you look silly, and that’s okay because none of that means you’re a bad player or that you don’t deserve to be here. If you didn’t deserve to be here you wouldn’t be here.”

Y/N doesn’t respond, but Pou knows she’s just processing what Pou said. They stand in the middle of the ice, holding each other, the few others there ignoring them. After a little bit, Y/N pulls back and wipes her face.

“What did you call me this morning? Um, like, petite, uh.”

“Lapinou,” Pou answers, “It means little bunny.”

“Because I’m small?”

“Non,” Pou laughs, “Because you’re young and you’re like a bunny on the ice. You have so much energy and you’re very fast. Like a bunny.”

Y/N smiles softly, and she taps Pou’s side with her fist lightly.

“Thanks,” Y/N says and Pou knows she’s not talking about the nickname anymore.

***

Game day begins the same way that any game day does. Team breakfast, pregame team meeting, a few hours of free time, then team bus ride to the arena for a pregame skate, and another team meeting, and then it’s game time.

A lot of the team has very specific pregame rituals, and Pou lets them do their thing. Pou gets herself game ready, she thinks through all the ways the game could go and how she should react and respond to it. She doesn’t let herself focus too hard on what ifs before they happen, but she likes to be prepared for everything.

Y/N doesn’t have a pregame ritual, which Pou can understand, because she didn’t have one either when she was 16. When Pou asks her what she normally does before a game, Y/N shrugs and says she does whatever the rest of her team does. Pou expects her to go find someone else to hang out with, since Pou knows she’s not that fun to hang out with. Instead, Y/N stays, and she asks Pou to talk her through what she’s thinking, and Pou finds herself going over the game with Y/N.

When it’s time to leave, the team heads onto the bus. Y/N gets pulled into a lively discussion with the Gosling cousins as Pou sits next to Laura. Pou can’t help but keep an eye on Y/N, making sure she’s okay and that the girls aren’t overwhelming her. Pou barely glances away when Clark says something to her and Pou blushes and tries to ignore the knowing look Laura gives her.

The game starts fast and rough like it always does. Both teams come out firing right from the gate and each team is trying to suss out the refs and see how much they can get away with without a call, so there’s always some hard hits before the game settles some. Pou did her best to prepare the rookies for it, so that no one’s caught off guard the first time they go crashing into the boards.

Pou watches from the bench as Y/N’s line skates down the ice. Neither team has gotten into a rhythm yet, the puck switching possession in the neutral zone, one or two players breaching the offensive zone to get a half-hearted shot off before the defense swarms them. Y/N races for a puck that’s been sent deep into the zone with Megan Keller hot on her tail. Pou holds her breath as she waits for the inevitable collision at the boards, and then Y/N eases up. For a second, Pou wants to swear. Y/N’s going to get ripped into by their coach if she keeps backing off plays. But then, as soon as Keller gets past her, Y/N picks up speed again, surprising Keller and shoving her off the puck and taking it herself. She takes a look on the ice and passes it into the slot to Danielle Serdachney who slides it past Frankel.

Pou jumps out of her seat. She joins her teammates as they bang on the boards in celebration. Dachs skates past the bench for fist bumps and Y/N does too with the rest of the players on the ice. They head onto the bench and the next line comes out onto the ice. Pou grabs Y/N as soon as she’s close enough.

“Bravo, mon petite lapinou! That was such a smart play,” Pou praises. Y/N looks up at her, a bashful look on her face.

“Really? You think so?”

Pou is struck again by how young she is. She looks younger like this, sitting on the bench with Pou standing over her, in her gear and cage, face red from exertion, and looking like she almost can’t believe Pou thinks she did well. Pou leans down so their helmets knock together lightly.

“Every time you step on the ice I find something else about you to be impressed by. I’m so proud of you.”

Y/N’s eyes sparkle under the praise and the grin doesn’t leave her face for the rest of the game.

***

The next game is a few days later. They spend those days recovering, and then revving themselves back up. They watch film, address what went well in the last game and what didn’t, and working to improve on their game. Pou thought that Y/N’s performance in the last game would assuage her doubts, but she finds that she’s wrong.

“Are you excited to start university?” Pou asks, seeing Y/N filling out scholarship paperwork. She knows college is two years away, but she also knows that colleges want things done early, they want commitment on paper early. Y/N shrugs.

“I guess.”

“You don’t sound very excited.”

“I just…” Y/N tugs her hood over her head, “I don’t think I’ll play much. I like the school and I like the coach and… There’s just so many players, better than me, and I think I’ll ride the bench. I just want to play hockey."

"Of course you’ll play! No team would even dream of benching you,” Pou says, “They recruited you because they want you and you provide something they don’t have.”

“I’ve never played with college players before,” Y/N says, “I’ve only played with the U18s, and in high school. I’m going to get destroyed out there.”

“You played with us,” Pou puts her hands on Y/N’s shoulders and looks her in the eye, “You made the senior national team at sixteen, and you made your debut and you got an assist. You played so well–”

“I got lucky,” Y/N interrupts, “That wasn’t skill.”

“That wasn’t luck! You played so well because you are so skilled and so talented. One day you will see how good you are and you will appreciate the opportunities you’ve been given, and until you do I will be here to remind you that you are so wonderful and amazing and you deserve all the good things you have.”

Pou doesn’t know how long it will take to get Y/N to fully believe her, but she’s willing to remind the young girl every opportunity she has until it sinks in.

***

The game is rough from the start. Coming off a loss, the US is hungry for an early goal and to disrupt Canada as much as they can. Pou can feel her own frustration building, but she forces herself to push it down and keep her focus. It doesn’t do anyone any good for her to lose her head because the other team is chippy.

Pou does her best to calm the team down. Most of the vets don’t need her help, but some of them and the rookies Pou can tell are letting the game get to them. She mimes deep breaths, she tells them all to take their frustrations out on the scoreboard, to get even by scoring and winning, not taking silly penalties and giving up opportunities.

The US scores early. It sucks and it’s off a stupid mistake, a wayward pass that landed right in the path of Grace Zumwinkle, and Pou can see the frustration, disbelief, and disappointment on Ella Shelton’s face. Pou grabs her before she skate to the bench, almost before the puck has even fully crossed the line.

“You’re fine, it was a mistake, let it go and keep pushing. We’ll get it back and we’ll get the win.”

Ella nods and Pou doesn’t let go until she unclenches her jaw.

“Yeah, we’ve got this.”

***

Pou isn’t on the ice when it happens. She’s on the bench, breathing hard after a tough shift and watching Y/N skate after the puck. Pou is immensely proud of the young girl, she’s made a name for herself and a place on the roster and any fears or doubts she has disappear when she steps on the ice. Pou’s eyes follow her, and she watches Y/N pick up a loose puck and skate quickly around the US defenders and get a breakaway on goal. Pou’s half on her feet before Y/N even takes the shot, and the bench yells when her shot gets blocked by the goalie. Y/N gets one whack at the rebound before the puck gets covered and Pou watches a US player shove Y/N in the back and she sprawls forward onto the ice.

“Hey!” Pou screams, her arms up. The rest of the bench screaming with her.

It’s not even a second after that Laura appears beside the US players and grabs her around the neck and pulls her back. Laura doesn’t let go, holding her and yelling in her face, and all the players on the ice get into it. The refs blow their whistle and start pulling players back. Players break off and skate to the bench while the refs debate over what the calls should be. Laura gets dragged to the bench by her teammates because she’s still yelling at the refs and the entire American bench.

“Fucking bitch,” Laura mutters when she gets to the bench. Pou laughs at her fiancée and taps her helmet. Pou goes over to Y/N and compliments her on the play. Y/N grins as she takes the compliment and Pou can hear the excitement in her voice.

Pou jumps off the bench when the refs leave their huddle, going over as captain to get an explanation, giving a nod to Knight when she gets there. The refs tell them that both players committed penalties, so they’re determining them incidental and letting them go, rather than playing four on four. Pou tries to argue that Laura’s wasn’t a penalty, that she was preventing the US player from injuring their player, but the refs won’t hear it. Pou goes back to the bench to relay the message. Laura is still ranting.

“Laura,” Pou says in amusement, “Are you trying to get a penalty?”

“Did you see what happened? That was such a dangerous play, she had two hands on her,” Laura mimes the shove, “Two hands!”

Pou shakes her head and skates to the face off circle, leaving Laura ranting to whoever is unfortunate enough to be left on the bench with her.

***

In the dying minutes of the third, they’re tied, 2-2, and Pou is getting herself ready for overtime. It’s never a good idea to plan ahead in sports, but overtime is a completely different ball game than regulation, and it’s a different mentality and Pou knows she needs to be ready from the jump against a team like the US.

It doesn’t matter though, because with 30 seconds left Canada has a mix up with their shifts and they’re almost caught out, until Y/N jumps off the bench amidst the confusion and steals the puck off the American’s stick. She streaks through center ice, past the defenders and it’s a one-on-two, Y/N in alone, and Pou expects her to dump it deep and let the team get situated, but she doesn’t. She moves outside then cuts inside, clearing just enough of a lane to rip a shot on net. Pou doesn’t realize what’s happened, until the buzzer sounds and the ref is pointing at the net and Pou realizes Y/N just fucking scored. She watches Y/N skate quickly past the net and leap into the boards. The rest of the team on the ice swarms her and when they skate past the bench everyone slaps Y/N’s hands while she laughs.

There’s only a few seconds left in the game and Pou goes out for the face off and then the buzzer sounds and even though it's just a friendly, it sure feels like one of the biggest games the team has played.

Back in the locker room, Y/N is given the game puck for her first goal. The team cheers loudly for her and then someone, Clarky, Pou thinks, starts chanting speech.

“Uh,” Y/N starts, “Thanks, I guess. I would thank my assisters, but they’re in the other locker room, so.”

The room erupts again, with cheers and laughs and Emma grabs Y/N around the waist and hoists her in the air and Y/N’s squeal is drowned out by cheering.

Later that night, after the celebrations are over and the team remembers they have early morning recovery and everyone is back in their rooms for the night, Pou comes out of the bathroom to see Y/N sitting on her bed, staring at the game puck in her hands with a smile.

"Congratulations patate,” Pou says, “Your first goal.”

“Yeah,” Y/N says quietly.

“I’m proud of you,” Pou says earnestly, “You’ve done so well for yourself.”

Pou continues getting ready for bed, reminding Y/N that she does too. Reluctantly, Y/N puts the puck down and digs her pyjamas out of her suitcase. Pou waits for Y/N to be back in bed before she shuts the lights off and climbs into bed herself.

***

Later, when the team is saying goodbye and everyone is departing for the airport, Pou and Laura are waiting in the hotel lobby for their ride to the airport. Pou smiles when Y/N comes to join them. Y/N’s flight is later, but Pou’s glad for the chance to say a real goodbye before she leaves. Y/N hugs Laura first, only whining a little when Laura ruffles her hair.

“Can I come visit you in Montreal?” Y/N asks, “Over the summer, once school’s done?”

“Of course you can, mon petite lapinou,” Pou says, “You’re always welcome.”

Y/N hugs Pou tight.

“You can call me whenever you want, I don’t care what time it is. I’ll always be here for you,” Pou whispers.

“Thanks, mama.”

#marie philip poulin #marie philip poulin x reader #laura stacey #laura stacey x reader #marie philip poilin x laura stacey x reader #woho #pwhl #woho imagine

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bugtoonz · 1 month

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Alright guys, here’s the official introduction of the infamous

McClintock High Teen Ninjas!

While not the only ninjas present at the school, these seven are the clear leads of the operation. For more information on each of them, check below the cut!

Stacey Pérez

- Cheer captain of the McClintock Cheerleading Squad as well as the unofficial official leader of the McClintock Ninjas

- She also cheers competitively; she’s, like, really good

- Probably the meanest girl you’ll ever meet, but only if you try going against her demands; stay on her good side, and you’ll escape her presence with only a few snide remarks and maybe a new insecurity

- Likes Chad’s face and hair, but likes flirting with other guys even more; besides, it’s not like she hasn’t totally heard from Cree that he was making out with Shelly Rivers underneath the bleachers last week!

- Has a super annoying KND operative brother that keeps stealing her BRAs!!! GET OUT SAM!!

- Despite her agility and cunning, was never a KND operative… she was never a fan of the whole “protecting helpless kids” bit; why go out of your way to help someone that can’t do anything for you in return?

Chad Dickson

- Former KND Super Star and Super Leader; current running back for the McClintock Wolverines

- Stacey’s on-and-off-again boyfriend; their relationship is more related to status than anything; think of it as a symbiotic relationship… Chad gets firsthand access to all Teen Ninja information and gossip, and Stacey gets some nice arm candy to make the girls on the squad jealous

- Occasional bassist for the ScumBucketPunks, founded by elusive Teen Leader The Steve

- Secret Doctor Time Space and the Continuums enthusiast; tell anyone and you’re dead. like, for real

- Secret double agent for the Teens Next Door; also, a double double agent for the Galactic Kids Next Door; it’s complicated.

Justin Cavallero

- Linebacker for the Wolverines; he loves pummeling people almost as much as he loves chugging offensive amounts of root beer at houseparties

- Twins with Chuckie; Yes, they’re identical. No, they are not the same person but with different hairstyles

- Him and Chuckie have an older brother that’s just gone off to college; he used to lock them in the closet when they were little and play scary ghost noises from his CD player until their mom found out and unlocked the door; he’s awesome

- Chad Dickson’s best friend, kinda; it’s sort of split between him and Chuckie, but he thinks he reigns supreme; Chuckie’s too soft

- Guitarist for the ScumBucketPunks. Has a totally straight bro-crush on The Steve.

- IT’S NOT GAY TO APPRECIATE PERFECTLY STYLED HAIR, CHUCKIE

Chuckie Cavallero

- Also a linebacker for the Wolverines; him and Justin are blessed with identical broad shoulders and thick skulls, so it makes sense

- The more sensitive of the two brothers, but still shares Justin’s puppy dog attention span and live while you’re young outlook on life

- Chad Dickson’s second best friend; he’ll admit it! It’s not like he doesn’t have plenty of other dudes to hang out with… not to mention the new girl at school who might be the coolest person he’s ever met

- Drummer for the ScumBucketPunks; pretends not to mind when The Steve accidentally calls him Chunky for the third time in one day

- Him and Justin were both KND operatives at one point in time, though both accepted decommissioning; they both just think they have childhood amnesia from all their rough-housing, or something

Violet Dau

- The newest student at McClintock High, and Stacey’s current pet project

- She thinks she might be getting the hang of the whole being a popular girl thing, but she’s not quite sure; at least she doesn’t totally suck at cheerleading; she misses playing tennis at her old high school, though

- Has a secret, massive sweet tooth; strawberry milkshakes are her favorite, but she’ll settle for vanilla if she’s really desperate

- Secretly working with Chad as a TND operative; he’s kind of a jerk sometimes, but she’s warming up to him, sort of? It doesn’t help that it always feels like he’s hiding something from her…

- Lives with her dad in a small apartment close to the school; they don’t talk much

Cree Lincoln

- Not a cheerleader (she’s captain of the girls’ volleyball team), but still high up in the ninja ranks thanks to her insider KND information and close connections with Father himself

- Sometimes friends with Stacey, but sometimes not; It’s complicated girl stuff; there’s a mutual respect though, and she’s smart enough to know not to jeopardize that if she ever wants to sit at the popular kids’ lunch table ever again

- Totally crushing on Maurice, and they might be kind of dating? She’s not sure yet, but she’s hopeful

- The best hand-to-hand combatant in the group, easily; the only way Chad is able to beat her during sparring matches is by riling her up and making her angry enough to drop her carefully planned attacks in favor of hard punches; Chad might be able to take her down in the end, but he’s the one with bruises along his ribcage for the next week

- Loves trashy teen magazines and pop punk girl artists; hates the classical music her mom plays in the car on the way to school

- Wishes her dumb little sister would finally grow up and join her in the teen world, which is super cool and mature, obviously

Maurice Wells

- Much too busy with international TND missions to do any sport or club; he doesn’t mind though, the high school social hierarchy majorly freaks him out

- Often works with Chad and Violet, reading over their mission reports and trying to apply their gained information to the grander scheme of fighting adult tyranny

- Does NOT get paid enough (wait, he doesn’t get paid at all!) to put up with their constant bickering; seriously, how can you even find a way to argue about the color of the sky??

- Likes to read on his days off, preferably science fiction or fantasy; with as stressful as his job can be, he’ll take all the escapism he can get

- Might be dating Cree? He doesn’t know; she scares him a little bit

- Secretly meets up with Abby about once a month to catch up and share field notes; he’s an only child, and in a lot of ways she’s like the little sister he never had

- Has the sneaking suspicion that there might be something even bigger than the TND out there pulling the strings, and that Chad is in on the deception, but knows that it’s smarter to wait things out on the sidelines than to charge headfirst demanding answers; Maurice may only be a teenager, but he’s wise beyond his years in a way no one expects

#phewww this took a hot minute #i have sooooo many ideas for them you don’t even understand #kids next door #knd #chad dickson #oc: violet dau #stacey peréz #justin cavallero #chuckie cavallero #cree lincoln #maurice knd #maurice wells

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timoswerner · 1 year

Text

this has pissed me off beyond belief. firstly how is THAT what you take away from that match? secondly… this is just so insulting to sonny? i could understand the argument to make madders captain is sonny wasn’t there - a new head (who has won a club trophy in recent years lol) with new ideas, he’s the kind of the player to push his team over the line, and he’s very clearly stepped up (almost seems like he matured overnight) since being here. but sonny is here. and was clearly the natural choice to be captain. who cares if sonny isn’t ‘shouty’ enough, it’s not the 90s anymore where you captain has to be a shouty hard man à la roy keane. you really think sonny won’t speak up when needed? sonny has done so much for us, has always been a great example to every other player on and off the pitch, and bar a patchy first season with us and last season where we had a manager who drained the life out of every single player bar one, has always stepped up for us when we’ve needed him. the players all love him and would run through a brick wall for him. he is a perfect representative for our club and he deserve more respect from the fans.

#madders can have the captaincy when sonny’s gone #but for now sonny is more than fine as captain #and deserves respect #like at this point with these people in thinking of a word start starting with r and ending with ism and i’m not sure they’re even conscious #that they’re doing it #but even so it’s not that hard to just change your mindset of what a captain should be or how you view sonny #stacey speaks

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idontplaytrack · 5 months

Text

Redeeming Win

AJ Campos x fem!reader

Warnings: coarse language, attempted assault, violence, hospitalisation. Reader discretion is advised.

In which reader tries to beat her own timing lately for the run, Coach Murray lets her & Paige wasn’t too happy about it- and anything else.

Part 2 to Watch You Sleep

“Okay, team. Gabi you go first, AJ goes next, then Evans, and y/l/n, you’ll be taking the last stretch.” Coach Murray decided. Great, even in track, Paige was coming in between you and AJ.

“y/n, focus.” Coach reminded you, “You were still two seconds behind.”

“Okay.” You took a deep breath, nodding.

“Don’t just tell me. Prove it- let our team place this time.”

AJ squinted at the guy, coming closer to you to give your shoulders a squeeze. “You got this okay? Just do your best- don’t think about anything, and run.”

“Yup, okay.” You answered, warming up as did Paige and AJ.

“Okay, ladies. We have five minutes to go.” Coach announces.

Paige groans, distracting you from your little moment of meditation. You whipped your head around to look at her talking to Dylan while looking at you. “Babe? Look at me. Ignore her.”

“Believe me, honey. I’m trying.” You huffed, stretching your arms.

Before you two could say anything else, Coach asks the three of you to go get ready on the track. The rest of the team gathered on the bleachers and by the sides of the track to watch. The starter pistol goes off, Gabi began to run. She hands the baton to AJ, then she was off too.

“That’s Miller High’s co-captain, AJ Campos. Currently well ahead of Rivers High. Looks like they’ll place again this year.” The commentator said. “Now, she’s passing it over to Paige Evans, newcomer who is…keeping up. Go Miller High. Oh- she’s nearly tripped.”

“Oof- that can’t be good.” Commentator number two chimed in. “Last stretch- y/n y/l/n who won Miller High their first place two years ago at this very place.”

Now you had to go the fastest you’ve ever had.

“Will she manage to do it again after her performance last year?” Commentator number one mentioned.

What a jerk. The anger you felt made you run even faster.

“It’s very close Rivers High is nearly catching up. Oh! y/l/n is speeding by. Okay here we go- last few feet to go. And y/l/n has redeemed herself. Miller High! First place!”

The commotion that the team made, cheering and whooping when they heard the announcement. AJ was the first one to hug you, damn near spinning you around and making you more dizzy than ever. “Congrats, y/n. That was freaking impressive- I was clearly wrong about you-” Coach walked up to you and stuck out his hand so you shook it quickly. “Fuck.” You muttered, facing away from him, “Oh, my God- I’m gonna p-” You pushed her away and made a mad dash for the bathroom and you barely made it.

“It’s alright, you’ll be okay.” AJ was apparently right behind you and rubbing your back, “Oh my gosh- why did you push yourself so much?”

“I don’t know, I saw Paige nearly trip then the crap that the commentators said about me? I just- channeled my anger and energy to sprinting, I guess.” You stood up straight again, AJ hands you a tissue paper. Once she pushed the bathroom door open, you were met with a bunch of confused and concerned faces. “I’m fine.” You said dismissively.

“That sounded vile.”

“No shit.” AJ rolled her eyes. “I’ve had enough of you being a little shit you’ve been, Evans. Keep your negativity to yourself. y/n and I have been dating for more than half a year. It’s not my fault or hers that you can’t be mature and deal with a loss like this.”

Gabi handed you a bottle of Gatorade which you gratefully accepted and immediately drank some of. “Thanks.” You told her and she smiles.

“You knew?” Stacey asks.

“Yeah, so?” Gabi shrugs, “How is it any of my business who my sister’s seeing if there’s no reason for me to be concerned about her safety and whatnot?”

“I didn’t.” Stacey chuckles, “I just thought you two were besties.”

“Well, we were.” You answered.

“Cute.” Stacey grins. “Do you still feel-”

You cut her off, “A little. Um- I’m gonna go back to the room first?”

“Sure, we’ll order in some pizza later. Stacey’s room. Say, 7?” Dylan suggests.

“Yeah, sounds good. I’m gonna go with just in case.” AJ nods.

“Go straight ahead behind you two, cut through the garden. It’s way faster than going across the whole track.” Stacey told them.

“Okay, thanks. Come on, baby.” AJ puts her arm around you and walked back to the hotel with you.

“We’ll bring your bags to your room for you. Just head back to the hotel and rest.” Dylan called after the both of you.

“Alright.” AJ answers, “Do you want anything?”

“To sleep. Finally redeemed myself and won the school the first place trophy after I failed last year.”

“Because you fell and fractured your ankle.”

“And I still could’ve pushed through.”

“Babe, please- it’s not worth it to talk about that now. If you’d hurt yourself more seriously by finishing the race, you wouldn’t be running today- trust me.”

“Why the hell did he have to remind me of it.” You exhaled harshly.

“We cannot change the past, but we’re in charge of our own future. You did amazing today, okay? Be proud of that. And everything else you’ve ever set your heart to because you did your best.” AJ pecks your lips softly, “I’m so proud of you.”

“Do you think she actually almost tripped?”

“Who knows? That girl is fucking clumsy. Coach made me train her so she wouldn’t tank our ranking. He only accepted her because he needed extra people on the team.” AJ laughs.

————

“I’m running us a bath, then once we’re not sweaty as heck, we can take a nap till it’s time to go eat with our friends.” AJ decided. You were looking around anxiously even after the door was shut. “What’s the matter, babe?”

“I just feel like- someone’s following me. Following us.”

“What?” Being a bit of a distance away from you, she couldn’t hear you that clearly. Just then, someone knocks on the door before you could repeat yourself. You looked through the peephole. “Paige.” You gasped, running away from the door and joining AJ in the bathroom. The door swings open, Paige barges in, “I hate you.”

“So? I hate you too, but you don’t see me going around being a bitch to you. I’ve had enough of being nice to you-”

“What the fuck- Evans, get the hell away from her.” AJ rushed out.

Paige grabs your shoulders and tried to kiss you. On reflex, you swung and hit her jaw. “That is assault.” Paige spat, a hand on her cheek.

“Self-defence. You assaulted me.” You shoved her away. “Fuck you! What the hell’s the matter with you? Life’s not fair- deal with it. You don’t go around doing whatever the fuck you please just ‘cause you can’t get what you want.”

“My Mom didn’t raise a quitter.” She got up, “Burn in hell.”

“You’re not helping your case here.” AJ stood in between you and her. You hear running coming from down the hall. “What on Earth is going on-”

Before you could register what was happening, AJ was shoved out of the way and a fist was slammed into your eye. No one saw that coming. No one caught you so you fell and hit your head on the corner of the bed frame. “Oh, my God!” Everyone screeched in horror. “I’m calling 911.” Coach Murray hurriedly fished out his phone. Within seconds, your vision blurred, the searing pain jabbed through your head, “Is she bleeding?”

“Oh, no. No, no. Stay awake, baby. Please. Stay with me.” AJ pleaded, falling to your side.

“AJ, don’t- don’t move her.” Coach stops her. “Yeah, no she’s- okay she just went unconscious. Thanks. 5 minutes. Everyone, step away.”

————

“Are you happy now? You just hurt someone that hasn’t done anything to you.” Gabi scoffs, “I don’t care what problems you have, don’t you dare do anything like that ever again to my friends and my sister. And thank fucking God, because you just made her hate you forever. And that girl’s a saint.”

“Gabs, come on.” Stacey put a hand on her shoulder and took her away from Paige.

“Evans. You’re off the team, expect a letter of suspension when we’re back at school. This is unacceptable behaviour.” Murray walked up to her. She didn’t respond- she just stood there as Coach continued walking around the hallway.

“I wasn’t able to contact either of her parents- any idea where they are?”

“They’re in Bali to celebrate their twentieth wedding anniversary.” Gabi answers, rubbing AJ’s back in the meantime.

“That explains it. The time difference.” Murray sighs. “I’ll try again later. Once the doctor’s out here, I’m gonna have to head back to the hotel to make sure the rest of team isn’t wrecking havoc.”

“Yeah, we’ll be fine here together.” Dylan told him.

“Call me if you guys need anything. Gabi has my number.”

Later, the doctor informs Coach and the team that you had a fracture in your cheekbone, a concussion and a superficial tear in your skin that resulted in the bleed. “She’ll be okay but she really has to take it easy throughout the healing process for the concussion. We stitched up the wound on her head and did some tests to make sure her brain’s not swelling and that she’s alert. But as with any other head injury, no strenuous activities, no activities that require a lot focus, and plenty of rest- day and night. She also seems to be extra sensitive to noises and lights, is nauseous and has thrown up once. That’s all expected but could persist while she heals. Her eye and vision are both fine, so no worries about that.”

“Can we go in to see her?”

“Preferably in pairs. She seems to remember what happened leading up to her injury but still, it’s best not to overwhelm her.”

“Very well, thanks doc.”

“No problem.” With that, the doctor leaves. Coach took Paige with him and left as well. “Okay, Gabs, AJ you two go in first.” Stacey decided, “Me and Dylan can wait.”

AJ quietly opened the door and she walks in. It felt a little strange not to knock because she always had the habit, but remembering what the doctor said, she didn’t. “I’m alive, don’t worry.” You joked. “Good to see you smiling.” Gab revealed, nudging AJ to go ahead while she herself sat down. “That was the scariest moment of my life.” AJ said in disbelief. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?” You sighed, “I’m in pain, but I’m okay. I will be - the doctors made sure of it. I just need to take it very slow for the next I don’t know, couple months maybe?”

AJ caresses your (uninjured) cheek as she gave you a teary smile, “I know, baby. I just got so scared but I’m so glad you’re alright.”

“I thought you two oughta know that she-who-shall-not-be-named has been kicked of the team, awaiting suspension.” Gabi announced.

“That’s nothing. I would’ve got her expelled.” Evidently, AJ was still fuming. “I get it, but with this on her record, it’s bye-bye CalArts for her.” Gabi reminded, “I reckon that punishment should suffice, for now. Karma’ll get her.”

#auli’i cravalho #aj campos #crush hulu #wlw #queer #lgbtqia #queer fic #fluff #angst #drama #love triangle #hurt/comfort #reader insert #x reader #female reader

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