Chapter Text
Around an hour after they get back from the game, Ryan and Akira are hanging out in their room, watching a Disney movie. Ryan is leaning back against the pillows, zoning out. Akira has his head resting against Ryan’s chest, half listening to his heartbeat and half to the movie.
Ryan jumps when there’s a knock on the door. “If you’re important enough to have a key, come on in! If not, go away. I'm, uh, naked… or whatever will make you go away.”
Nico walks in. “You better not be naked if you’re inviting people with a key in. Which could be Me, Jack, Pally, or any of the coaches. You really want Lindy to see you naked?”
“You ever heard of this thing called a locker room? Cause he’s probably seen all of us naked in there.”
Akira looks up at Ryan, holding back a laugh. “You realize if Lindy were to walk in, he would’ve seen you, half naked, and me, half asleep, laying on a half naked defenseman. And you would’ve been the one to invite him in to see his team fucking cuddling, watching and finishing crying over the opening to Up.”
Nico walks over to them, sitting on the other bed in the room. “Hey. Get up. Leave room for Jesus.”
“We aren’t even doing anything.” Ryan grumbles, not meeting Nico’s eyes.
“Not doing anything my ass. You guys are one layer away from practically boning. You two are nasty.” He picks up a hoodie off the floor, throwing it at Ryan. “Put on a fucking shirt you dumbass.”
Akira glares at Nico, cuddling closer into Ryan. “Hmm. How about no.”
Ryan laughs softly, shifting Akira off his lap and onto the bed next to him, grabbing a t-shirt and putting that on instead of the hoodie. “What’s up Nico?”
“You said I could ask you some questions earlier? You still up for that?”
“And I guess that means that I’m going to go take a nap on Vitek’s bed while he does whatever the fuck he does after a flight.” Akira groans, slowly getting up, visibly moving slowly on purpose to see if anyone will stop him. “All by myself. Walking through the empty hotel halls…”
“Akira. You are being so overdramatic. I said I was asking Ryan questions. Not that I was sending you to the fucking pound.”
“So I can stay?”
“As long as I can talk to Ryan without you making smart ass comments.”
“Sweet!” He laughs, flopping back onto the bed, cuddling himself back up to Ryan. “Also you love me Nico. Stop pretending you don’t.”
“You’re creating a monster Ryan.”
“Excuse me? You’re being very vampire-phobic right now Nico. And you won’t even say it to my face? Bold of you to assume Ryan won’t tell me what you say.”
“Akira. Shut up. You dumbass. You’re literally right in front of me. Nothing I’m saying is behind your back.” Nico retorts with a scoff, rolling his eyes. “God why did I accept the captain position. It’s like I’m fucking herding cats. Or worse. Toddlers.”
“I’m going to pretend you aren’t flat out insulting our team. You said you had questions?” Ryan says, rolling his eyes.
“I normally wouldn’t be bothering you with stupid questions but I think I’m on the borderline of fucking up my relationship with Luca. And I can’t do that.”
“So. Questions. What are they?”
Nico looks at the floor, rubbing his palms against his pants. “First of all, I want to apologize. I was worried about my team and didn’t think about how it would affect you. I never wanted to upset or hurt you. Yes, I may be protective over my team but you’re my team too.”
Ryan nods, looking over at Akira who is, very obviously, pretending to not listen.
“I especially want to apologize about the Akira situation. He’s an adult who’s allowed to make his own choices. I guess I still saw him at the sixteen year old I played with in juniors. And that’s on me. So I’m sorry. Both of you.”
“It’s fine. Just next time maybe let someone explain before you immediately accuse someone of horrible things like that. I care about Akira and would never hurt him.”
Nico awkwardly rubs the back of his neck. “Sor-”
“Nico, if you apologize again, I’m kicking you out of our room.” Ryan says, shooting him a glare. “What other questions do you have? But if one of them is about sex I am smacking you upside the head.”
“Don’t worry. I think Miles already answered most of those on the plane. I think the biggest question I have is how bad is the pain of a change? Like, for a normal situation. I understand that both you and Akira had far from that.”
Ryan leans back against the bed pillows, looking over at Akira. “For most normal people, I mean, obviously it’s not the most pleasant situation but it’s definitely not as bad as it was for me. If I’m going off of how the others I’ve changed have handled it, it’s still pretty painful but not ice bath, feeding tube painful. Out of all of them, I think either Dougie or Bo handled it the best. Dougie only had a day of some strong pain and Bo had it really easy painwise. Why?”
“I’m worried about Luca. I can’t believe he didn’t tell me.”
Ryan pulls him into a side hug, rubbing his arm. “I think you have to talk to him about that. He seems to be pretty happy now, whether you like it or not. He’s still Luca. Still your brother.”
Nico sits for a moment before visibly getting an idea. He stands up, pointing to Ryan. “You should change me too! Then he can relate to me better and maybe he’ll tell me more things. And I can change Jack like he seems to have been wanting!”
Akira starts laughing hysterically from the other side of the bed where he’s on his phone. He gasps for air as he tries to get his words out. “There’s- You didn’t- He wants- HA!” He gets out, leaning on Ryan for support, then looks up to glare at him. “Please tell me you aren’t actually thinking about it.”
“Absolutely not.” He laughs then turns back to Nico. Putting his hands on his shoulders, he sits him down. “Nico. You’ve had an eventful last few days. Go back to your room, call Luca and talk to him. Then you probably want to talk to Jack too. Tell him how you’re feeling and see what he thinks. Maybe address the rumors? Give it a week. If you’re still feeling this way, then we can talk.”
Nico nods, looking down at his lap. “Thanks Ryan. I’m gonna head back to my room. Maybe watch a movie with Jack and just decompress. Bye Akira. Don’t do anything… I don’t even know?”
Nico stands up and walks with Ryan to the door. He gives him a hug and goes back to his and Jack's hotel room.
Ryan walks over to the bed, lets out a large sigh and belly flops onto the bed next to Akira. He turns his head, smiles at him and pulls him close. “What. A. Day.”