Work Text:
He was walking in for a normal day of practice, until he realized someone was missing. The energy was off. It wasn't as lively as it usually was. That's when he realized his best friend was missing. Seth had left Adarei alone. Sure he has other friends on the team, but no one was like Seth. They just understood each other. Sure he was chirped by the team. He heard it all. Him and Seth were called an old married couple, a toxic relationship, highschool sweethearts, they were told no more times than Adrei can count, and the team's favorite gay lovers. The chirping didn't really bother him or Seth; they just kind of took it. If they made eye contact across the locker room for too long , teammates would start snickering. If one even looked at the other getting changed they were target number one for chirps. Also the fact they share hotel rooms does not do any good for them. When they arrive at games together it always, " Did you have fun last night?", or "I could hear you guys through the walls."
So Andrei would say they're pretty close. He kind of expected a call or a text warning him that Seth would not be showing up, but he looked at their texts not a single new one. Andrei does not know why but it hurts. It stings. Usually if Seth were to not show up he'd warn Andrei before. Though Andrei decided to stop whining about it and just text and ask.
__________________________________________________
Sethie<3
Me
|Hey Sethie are you okay
|Why aren't you at practice?
Sethie<3
|Yeah, sorry for not telling you. Also YOU KNOW i
|HATE that nickname
Me
|YOU KNOW YOU LOVE IT! Also is everything okay?
|It's not like you to just ditch.
Sethie<3
|Okay so...
|Don't freak out please.
Me
|I can't promise anything.
Sethie<3
|So, I may have gotten a concussion.
|But don't worry it's mild like really mild
|Like back in a ""week mild
Me
|YOU GOT A CONCUSSION AND DIDN'T TELL ME.
|WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?
|ARE YOU OKAY? DO YOU NEED HELP?
Sethie<3
|Svechi I told you NOT to freak!
|It happened last night at our game.
|Remember when I was pushed into the post and hit |my head.
|That was when I got it.
|Also please don't tell the team they don't know yet.
Me
|Can I call you really quickly?
|I want to make SURE you're okay.
Sethie<3
|Umm.. okay one sec Svechy.
Me
|Okay
__________________________________________________
He puts his phone down for a few minutes to process the information. His best friend has been struggling with a concussion for a week and he wasn't told. Why? Normally Seth was an open book he'd say anything and everything on his mind. This just left Andrei confused. Does Seth not trust him enough? He tried to push the thoughts away and focus on getting dressed. He did it in record time three minutes and forty-one seconds to be exact. Now the only thing Andrei could do was wait for the call from Seth. He was desperate just to hear his friend's voice. Andrei did not realize how much happiness having his friend here brought him. His thoughts were interrupted by the ringtone of his phone. When he looked down, a photo of him and Seth hugging filled the screen with "Sethie<3" in big letters. He looked at the button to answer, but before he did he got up and left the room. Even though he had airpods connected it felt weird to talk to his phone. The team would ask who it was, though leaving the room doesn't eliminate that question. It would give him a buffer and alone time with Seth, so leaving seemed like the best option. Anyway, Andrei slid the green button up to accept the call.
"Hey Sweetie! How are you feeling?" Andrei asked excitedly to talk to Seth.
It seemed like he was fine. Until he started to speak.
"Hey... Svechi." Seth spoke as if each word was stuck onto his throat.
Andrei felt so bad he wished he was there to help Seth. To tell him everything is okay, but he isn't the best he can do right now is console Seth over the phone.
"Seth, are you sure you're okay? Please don't lie." Andrei pleaded with his best friend.
Seth sighed, not relieving any of Andrei's anxiety.
"Okay, I may have lied." Seth admitted, "It's a bit more severe than I made it seem."
Seth sighed again looking close to tears.
"They said I may be out for months." Seth whispered.
" Sethie, I'm so sorry." Adrei looked at his phone with sorrow,"I can come over after practice if you want. I'll bring chipotle."
"Please." Seth laughed.
"Okay, for now I'll see you in a few hours!" Andrei tried to speak as enthusiastically as he could.
"Bye!" Seth mumbled into a pillow.
With that the call ended and Andrei made his way back to the locker room. They still had about 20 minutes until practice started, so some of the guys had just started to get dressed. Andrei just went to go sit down, he wanted to be left alone. He was upset for his friend and the fact he wouldn't be at practice for weeks, maybe even months, definitely months. Though the guys didn't realize.
"Who were you calling out there Svech?" One of the older guys asked.
"Take a wild guess." He responded with seriousness.
"Your father?" His teammate responded with confusion.
"Wow," Andrei said with surprise, "are you being serious? I thought you'd immediately know I was calling Sethi— Harvey."
After almost saying "Sethie" he was given multiple looks. He was embarrassed for him and Seth.
"Sethie?" One of the guys questioned.
Andrei just rolled his eyes and walked away while flipping his teammate off.
"I—I nevermind," He tried to think of a defense while walking away, "just don't call him it. He absolutely hates it every time I use it."
"Damn I never thought he'd hate a secret nickname from you." His teammate retorts.
"You'd be surprised by the ones he likes." Andrei mumbled just above a whisper.
When he realized none of the guys had heard what he said, he walked back to his stall. That's where he stayed for about 15 minutes, just listening to music. Suddenly someone tapped him on the shoulder and warned him that practice was starting, so he got up and put on his helmet then walked out the door. It felt different when the familiar body wasn't next to him. He wasn't forced out on the ice 30 minutes early. He'd never admit this to Seth but he misses it. Anyway once he got onto the ice the thoughts seemed to fade away. All he could focus on was getting better shots, crisp passes, speed, and being a good teammate. Thankfully doing that made practice go by so much faster. It seemed he was back in the locker room with a blink of an eye.
Getting undressed and showering took about 20 minutes, which is short for Andrei. Though it seemed to take years. Finally when he was finished, he changed into new clean clothes. Which were a mix of his and Seth's. The black sweats were definitely his. Though he can't say the same thing for the Birkenstocks and his beanie or the gray compression shirt.
In his defense Seth said he could keep most of the items that weren't originally his. Though there were a few hoodies Andrei wasn't given permission to take. Simply they reminded him of Seth. He refused to give them up. Once Andrei was done changing he slipped the beanie over his wet hair, and slid the Birkenstocks onto his feet. Then walked towards his stall, grabbed his phone and keys and left the locker room. He headed out to the parking lot, unlocking his car on the way. Once he arrived he opened the driver side door, and climbed in. He sat there for a few moments. Though the silence was broken up by his ringtone. Andrei picked up his phone and saw a picture of him and Seth filling the screen. He knew who it was before even looking at the name. His thumb swiped up on the green button answering the call.
"Hey Svech! How was practice? Did I miss much?" Seth questioned.
"Hi baby!" Andrei said with excitement.
He was expecting to get a look from Seth, but no he just smiled. Then he started to laugh which sounded like heaven to Andrei.
"You didn't miss much. You know the team was up to their usual shenanigans. Also Burns may have heard me accidentally call you Sethie. Other than that practice was okay, it was just different without you." Andrei explained.
"Andrei Svechnikov, you are joking. Brent Burns heard you call me Sethie? We're going to get endlessly chirped for that." Though Seth's words were harsh the thick shield of laughter made it clear he was far from angry.
"Would you rather me accidentally call you I don't know, baby. That's something I would never live down!" Andrei says through his laughter as well.
"Anyway, when will you be here? I need a distraction and I've been waiting for my Chipotle for 3 hours."
Andrei let's a small laugh. His mouth curving into a smile.
"Don't worry I will bring you your Chipotle." Andrei assures.
"Thank you!" Seth mumbles.
Andrei puts his phone into the cup holder and buckles his seatbelt. He clicks the button to turn the car on. He continues to talk to Seth the entire time. The drive to Chipotle is about five minutes. Which isn't too far. When Andrei pulls into the drive thru line he tells Seth to shush.
"Seth! Shush, I'm about to order!" Andrei exclaims with a laugh.
Immediately the laughter on the other line ceased. Andrei was thankful for how compliant his friend was. Anyway he started to order when he pulled up to the speaker. He ordered their usual meals, did it say something that he knew his best friend's order by heart, maybe. They just came here all of the time, he tried to defend. He stopped thinking about how well he knew Seth and just listened to the woman on the other side of the speaker telling him to pull up to the window.
While he's waiting Seth starts talking again. The two fall into conversation talking about anything that comes to mind. Soon enough Andrei got the food and was paid. He left and went to Seth's apartment building. Again is it saying something that he knows the route to Seth's house by heart, maybe. Though it's not important right now. What is important is making sure his best friend is okay, and if ignoring his very obvious feelings is what he needs to do, that's what he will do.
Andrei pulls into the parking garage and chooses a spot relatively close to the elevator. He gets out, taking the bag of food with him. Then he continues towards the elevator. The wide metal doors open with the click of the up button. He climbs on clicking the button that takes him to floor five. The metal doors close again and the elevator starts to climb the building. In a matter of seconds the elevator doors open again allowing him onto the fifth floor. He starts down the hallway about halfway down and spots the door that he was looking for. Andrei approaches the door knocking softly. It takes barely three knocks for the door to fly open. The other side is a very sleepy looking Seth. He's one hundred percent wearing Andrei's Hurricanes hoodie; the obvious tell is the 37 plastered across his heart.
"Hey!" Seth says basically bursting with excitement.
"I missed you."
"It's only been a day." Andrei says as he walks through the door and into Seth's apartment.
He goes through the regular routine when coming into Seth's place. Starting by toeing his shoes off then taking the food over to the counter along with his phone, keys and wallet. As soon as everything is set down Andrei feels arms wrap around his waist. Obviously once he turns around he sees Seth. He reciprocates the hug. They stay like that for a while, Seth eventually resting his head on Andrei's shoulder. When they break the hug it's reluctant but they both know they need to eat. They both head to the counter, and Andrei takes the food out of the bag. He hands Seth his bowl
"Do you want to go eat on the couch?" Seth question.
"Sethie, don't you think that would make a mess?" Andrei tried to think responsibly about this, but the look on Seth's face made him soft, "Fine but I'm not cleaning up after you!"
Andrei knew that was a lie he'd do anything Seth asked for in a heartbeat.
"Mhm, definitely." Seth replied while he walked towards the couch.
Andrei followed soon after. He walked over to see Seth in his usual spot, along the left arm rest, watching whatever show was on the TV. Andrei took his spot right next to Seth. They both sat there engrossed in the show Andrei had now recognized as Baby Reindeer. Suddenly there was a tap on his shoulder, Andrei turned around to hear what Seth wanted.
"Could you please take this to the kitchen." Seth asked.
"Yes." Andrei replied sarcastically, rolling his eyes.
He stood up, grabbing the bowl from Seth's hands. He started towards the kitchen. He walked around the island and stopped in front of the fridge. First turning around and placing the food on the counter, then turning back to open the fridge. Finally he puts the food in the fridge. He shuts the door and heads back to the living room.
"Andrei, could you please grab a blanket." Seth asked with a pleading look in his eyes.
So obviously Andrei couldn't say no.
"Yes, you want the one from your room, right?" Andrei questioned.
"Yes." Seth replied.
"Okay." Andrei finished off the conversation, and made his way to Seth's room.
Andrei grabbed the dark gray blanket. One he'd shared with Seth far too many times. They were probably about to add one more time to the list. Anyway Andrei went back out to the living room. He walked across the room and once again took his spot next to Seth, though now throwing the blanket over them. Andrei deliberately left space between them. He didn't want to be too close just in case Seth wanted space.
It seemed Seth had other ideas. He was cuddled up against Andrei. Seth laid his head on Andrei's shoulder, every breath Seth took the tickled back of Andrei's neck. They stayed there watching and discussing the show. Until Seth said something unexpected.
"Andrei," Seth took a deep breath, " I just wanted you to know I'm so thankful for you. I don't think I know a singular other person who'd spend their nights with me. Anyway what I'm trying to say is I—I love you."
Andrei sat there in shock; he didn't know if he meant love in a friendly way.
"Seth, why wouldn't I want to spend my night here? You're fun to be around, even when you're hurt. I love you too." After his response Andrei pulled Seth into a hug.
Slowly, tiredness overtook them. Seth was the first to fall asleep, his breath slowly evened out. The darkness of the room and outdoors was comforting. So he tucked Seth's head under his chin and slowly fell asleep.