Work Text:
Will Vote
There were a few times in his life when Vote wondered if his life would have been vastly different, way calmer, or happier, if he had never met Will Smith. Not the actor. The hockey one, the one who was supposed to be marrying the Macklin Celebrini in two hours’ time, the one who was supposed to be in the dressing room, getting his hair styled and rehearsing his vows, not driving madly in his Bronco to god knows where in his pressed black suit and blue tie, and kidnapping his best friend. Yes, Vote is adamant that he was kidnapped. Why, he was minding his own business, shoving a strawberry down when Will had grabbed him and dragged him out of the place, into his car, and started driving madly, he nearly had an early death by strawberry.
‘San Jose Sharks star Will Smith Eloped with his childhood friend Will Vote, leaving Macklin Celebrini on the Altar’
He could already see the headlines on the NHL social media, and pop base.
He had always wanted to be in the NHL, back then, when he still entertained the idea of being able to grow a few more inches. But he hadn’t in a few years and loves his life the way it is now, he did not need to be in the NHL social media accounts in any way or form especially this.
Being Will’s bestfriend since they were in their diapers, he had encountered various weird glances and looks, back when they were playing in the NTPD, then BC. It was always how people thought their whole group was sucking each other, he is straight. Then there were the glares he sometimes get when he was in the vicinity of some ‘willmack’ fans, before the said duo decided to post a drunken kissing video on Instagram after their Stanley Cup win. Once again, he is straight. Even if he swings that way, he would go for Mack, not Will, that would be like incest.
Vote shuddered at the thought.
The car came to a sudden shrilly halt, tossing him forward and he would probably knocked a few teeth off if it weren’t for the belt. He muttered out a curse before turning to his friend. “Dude, you okay there?”
Will’s knuckles were white, gripping tightly on the steering wheel while his eyes were wide open and staring ahead wildly. “There are polices.” He whispered, as if they were in some action film doing illegal things like transporting drugs.
“Okay,” Vote looked ahead and caught the sight of 2 police officers near the crossing, probably waiting for the traffic. He had a sudden urge to call them over and report of the kidnapping. “There are polices.” He repeated instead.
“Do you think Mack called them to find me?”
“No way man, look-.”
“So you think he doesn’t love me enough to search for me?”
“That’s not-“
“Maybe he really doesn’t love me.”
“Bro, you are the one run-“ ning away...
“He doesn’t love me.”
The car lurched 10 feet forward, to the left side, nearly hitting a lamp post.
Voter pressed the window down button and shouted at the police, like a mad man.
Ryan Leonard
Leno wished he hadn’t known so many gays, nothing against the gays, or the lesbians, or well all the queers. In fact his own best friend that he knew since they were kids is a gay, and his other best friend is a bi, so really, he is an Ally. He is even one of the grooms man, he loves the gays. But sometimes, he thinks that being with people who surround themselves with testosterone and have a lack of estrogen around made everything so much more intense.
That cannot be healthy, because, boys. All those needs to punch people, all those pent up hockey things, don’t they need some soft energy to sooth them? Will had looked at him and sighed exasperatedly before flicking his nose ‘look at his cute hetero mind’, he had said. Leno didn't get it. Anyway, right now he wants to punch his best friend. He thinks all those pent-up testosterone is what lead up to the stupid thing he just did.
Sighing, he squats down and placed his hand on Mack’s shoulder, giving it a light squeeze, trying to be comforting, while the younger male looked like as if he could faint anytime soon. Toffoli was on his other side trying to get him to calm down, while Dickinson is fanning him. Never in his lifetime did he feel sympathetic towards Celebrini, this is the first and probably the last time. He would never pray something like this to his worst enemy, and yes Celebrini is one of his worst enemy.
The thought of calling Will, Mr Smith- Celebrini soon made his stomach churned.
“Look, calm down. Vote is with him. He will make sure Will comes back, okay.” He tried to use the softest voice he could muster, the one he used when he is trying to appease a little kid.
A choked like gurgle sounded from the face that was the current face of the league, followed by the softest sob he heard. “He.. he probably realised he is way out of my league.” Celebrini started to mumble.
“I ca-“ A sob. “can’t even’t do my tax. Vote.. he,” He takes a deep inhale “he works in the office, probably know tax, Will’s gonna choose him.”
Leno blinked, then he looked up at the ceiling of the hundred-year-old church and prayed for strength. He knew hockey players aren’t that smart, including him, but to think that Vote is a better choice than Celebrini? Not that Vote is bad, but Leno has eyes, okay. He might not be gay, but he has eyes.
“You don't believe him, Celebrini?” He raised his voice, catching a disapproving glance from Toffoli. “Do you not have enough faith in him? Or you don't trust him at all?”
Celebrini shot him an angry glare “Of course I believe in him!”
“Right,” Leno scoffed, standing up so he would be looking at the groom from a higher angle, his smile almost condescending. “But you easily believe that he is what? Eloping with Vote?”
Celebrini snarled.
“Go on, bare those teeth. What are you gonna do? Bite me?” Leno could feel a pair of arm holding him, probably bedard’s, probably thinking he would lunge himself at Mack and bites him. “He is your groom, soon to be husband, probably having a panic attack and you are pitying yourself, dishonoring his love for you.” He seethed.
Leno didn’t know where that all came from, he was probably more mad at this good for nothing male for doubting his best friend than he had thought. It is his job anyway, to be defending the people close to him, his pack. That was always what he did, and what he will do, what they will do for each other.
Celebrini looked gobbed smacked, looking as if Leno had slapped him, he sure hope he had slapped some sense in him.
Leno sighed and pinched the space between his brows and held out a black square metal, Will’s phone “He didn’t bring anything, Not even his phone.” He watched Mack reached out to it and held the phone with both his hands, licking his lips nervously.
“I need to find him” Mack croaked out and Toffoli offered to come with him while helping him get up.
“I will come.” Bedard interjected. “Its better if you talk to the uh.. adults, his parents, try not to get them suspicious about what’s going on.”
Toffoli sighed and handed Mack’s arm to Bedard, as if Mack would fall over if no one is holding him.
“Yeah.. I will find him and..” Mack gestures his hands to the door behind them which lead to the main hall of the church, looking much better than he was a minute ago, determination written on his face “We will be back soon, just gotta find where he is.”
“That’s easy, I know where.” Everyone swiveled their head to the voice, and Gabe blinked back at them. “Vote just called.”
Connor Bedard
When Bedard was young, all he could think about was hockey. Everything in his life revolves around Hockey, all his friends he made, he knew them from Hockey, and Mack was one of those friends. They did not hit it off as best best friends when they started playing together in Canada, unlike Smith and Vote, or even Smith and Leonard. In fact, it was in their teens when they became close enough to be called as good friends. But he has his own circle of best best friends, and Mack has Aiden, his brother.
He wouldn’t even call them as super close by the time they play in the NHL, just close enough to spent summer training together, meet up for dinners at times during the season. It was probably when the dumber and dumber couple accidentally outed themselves to the world that somehow, they had formed some kind of group. The Gay, or Bi etc group, that’s what Misa called them.
It had been nice, finding people like him, people who he could count on have heart to heart discussions about things that he had not dare talk about before. He had yet to make that step to come out to the world, not after seeing the things both Mack and Will experienced in the first few months after being out. He has so much respect for them because of that, they gave him hope that it will be possible one day, that his life is just not about hockey.
“Wait for me in front.” He whispered to Mack as they walked out from the side door, not wanting to attract any attention then he made a small run into the hall to retrieve his keys and update Minty on what’s going on.
He finds Minten sitting stiffly, head looking down and hands in small fists on his lap. Connor slowed his steps and slides to sit next to him, momentarily forgetting about Mack. “Hey, you okay?” He whispered.
Minten turned to him, looking a little startled, and Connor could see the flashes of emotions in the eyes behind the glasses. “Did they find Will?” Minty whispered back and he nodded in respond.
“Yeah, Mack and I are gonna go get him. You okay to be here.. for awhile?” connor was now unsure if he should go, maybe he should ask Dicky to go instead. “What’s wrong?”
He could see Minten being nervous, and scared as he exhales shakily before looking at him. “I bought a house, with a pool, and five bedrooms.”
“...Okay.” Connor nodded, bewildered, and unsure if they should be talking about this right now “That’s great.”
Minten takes his hands and clasped their hands together. “That garden you like are free next June, and I paid a deposit, and I..I dm’d Eminen and Taylor swift to see if they can sing in the wedding”
Connor chocked, and wheezes. “Wedding.” He blinked, wondering if he heard it right.
“Yeah,” Minten said earnestly, then started talking fast, trying to pour out all his concerns, probably forgetting where they currently are “B-but you have got to tell me if you don’t love me anymore, don’t run away from me like you know, this. I won’t be able to take it. Promise?”
Connor felt faint, and giddy, and he wants to kiss the male before him, and profess to the world how much he loves Fraser Minten since they were eighteen. He takes in a deep breath and calm himself instead “Minty, I’m not going to run, but you have to at least, propose.”
“Oh.” Minten’s eyes grow wide, and his cheeks coloured in embarrassment. “I have not proposed?”
A peal of laughter left Connor and he surged forward, placing a soft kiss of Minten’s lips, not caring if anyone could see them, suddenly he could see that they will be fine. They will be married, next year, live in that big house, have a dog or two, everything is going to be perfect. His life and love is perfect. “You have not. So better think of one, or I will do it. But now I have to help my friend save his princess from the police.”
Minten only nodded, cheeks flushed red, and eyes wide. Connor bumps their noses together before taking his bag and making his way out to the parking lot where an agitated Mack is waiting.
He didn't even care that Mack was ranting his ears off for taking so long when he slipped into the car and started it. Nothing, not even a frustrated Mack could ruin his day today. Not even Will Smith Hockey running away could ruin his day, because he is going to drag that man’s fat ass back to the altar if he need. There is going to be a wedding, everyone will be happy, Minty’s fear will be wiped away and they will spend the night making love in that 5 star hotel he had booked earlier.
Will Smith Hockey will be Will Smith Celebrini Hockey by the end of the day because he will make sure that’s what going to happen.