(no subject)
“It’s going to get easier,” Ryan repeated to himself. “It can only hurt if I let it.” He continued this mantra, alternating between staring off into space and pacing around the hotel room.
“Hey,” Erik’s voice interrupted. “You alright?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be at the dinner?” Ryan frowned, confused. “Or, you know, in your own room?”
“You’re stuck with me tonight. Lando is rooming with his pop and my dad set up an all night poker game in his own room. Shane bought in, so I am keeping you company.” Erik grinned, his missing teeth making him look 5 years old. It was a dirty trick he used to get Ryan to bend to his will, and even though they both knew what it was, Ryan was powerless against it.
“Fucker,” Ryan smiled slightly. “I’m not exactly going to be the best company tonight, I’m afraid.” He sighed and dropped face first onto the bed nearest to where he was standing.
“I figured. I’m a big boy, I don’t need you to entertain me,” Erik shrugged, stretching out on the empty bed. “However, if you feel like joining the card game I am gonna go ahead and warn against it.”
“Don’t want me taking your old man’s money? Ryan grinned.
“My old man counts cards,” Erik smirked. “He never loses a big pot.”
Ryan laughed at that. “Too bad he never taught you that trick.”
Erik’s smirk deepened. “Consider yourself warned. Kaner will be all too happy to tell you exactly how much I took from him in Vancouver.”
“My silence will cost you,” Ryan teased.
“Would you prefer your payment in cash, check, credit, or blowjobs?” Erik laughed.
Ryan’s only response was to throw a pillow at the younger man, letting Erik’s laughter wash over him. Ever since the former first-over-all draft pick had joined the Avalanche, he had been able to calm Ryan whenever he had gotten overwhelmed or over-stressed. He never tried the usual tactic, never tried to get Ryan to ‘talk about his feelings,’ he just, had to be there. Ryan knew without a shadow of a doubt that if he wanted too, he could tell Erik every single thought that passed through his mind and the younger man would listen without judging, and would NEVER throw those thoughts back in his face.
“Dater’s a dick,” Erik interrupted Ryan’s thoughts. “I don’t think he means to be, but he doesn’t listen to the questions before he asks them.
“You heard the interview?” Ryan raised both eyebrows.
Erik laughed. “Observant, aren’t you? I was sitting next to you the whole time dude. Kinda had to what with my locker being next to yours and all.”
“Coulda been worse,” Ryan sighed. “Just wasn’t prepared to be asked THAT.”
“It was a stupid, hurtful, pointless question, which is exactly the kind of question Dater has made a career of asking. You handled him with better grace than Shane or I would have.”
“Thanks,” Ryan smiled softly. Erik didn’t respond, but Ryan could see the smile on the other man’s face. He knew how hard Erik tried to help others, and he knew how much such a smile acknowledgement meant to the taller man. “Now, get your ass over here or I am going to make you watch TANGLED with me, then tell everyone your hair glows when you sing.”
“I don’t sing,” Erik stuck his tongue out at Ryan, but moved to the other bed anyway.
“Do I really need to pull up youtube?” Ryan grinned.
“My hair wasn’t glowing,” Erik shoved Ryan’s shoulder gently.
“You were wearing an adorable Santa hat. You can’t prove that it wasn’t,” Ryan laughed.
“Fucker,” Erik pouted. “Why am I here exactly?”
“To replace the pillow I had to throw at you,” Ryan smirked, pushing Erik down and laying his head against his chest.
“You could have asked me to toss it back to you,” Erik pointed out, one hand coming up to toy with the ends of Ryan’s hair.
“Pillows don’t give head massages,” Ryan reasoned. He could feel Erik’s soft laugh rumble through the other man’s chest. If anyone were to walk in, they would get a very different picture of what was taking place, but Ryan didn’t really care. He liked being close to Erik, liked being touched by the blonde and liked touching him back. He felt safe, loved, and protected with Erik. “Are we weird?” he asked suddenly, with a small frown.
Erik shrugged. “Weird how?”
Ryan’s frown deepened. “I don’t know. Weird isn’t the right word for it maybe? Just…” Erik tugged gently on Ryan’s hair, encouraging the other man to continue. “Weird like Johnny Weir or weird like Paul and TJ?”
Erik laughed. “Neither of us listens to Lady Gaga while putting on makeup and wearing sparkly onesies, so I think we are safe from Johnny Weir comparisons.”
“You totally could rock the tassel,” Ryan laughed, yelping a little at the sharp tug Erik gave his hair. “Ok, so are we weird like Paul and TJ or like TJ and Shane?”
Erik sighed a little. “Not just my call here, Ry. And fuck you very much after that tassel comment.”
“You are so TJ in this relationship,” Ryan grinned.
“So then are you Paul or Shane?” Erik asked, tilting his head slightly.
Ryan thought for a long moment before moving just enough to look Erik in the eye. “Shane,” he answered slowly, “but I would rather be Paul.”
The smile that slowly spread over the younger man’s face may have been the most beautiful thing Ryan had ever seen. “Seriously?”
Ryan nodded. “You understand me better than anyone ever has,” he smiled. “Plus, you’re pretty hot I guess, and I know what you’re packing,” he teased.
Erik made a scoffing noise. “Be honest. You only want me for the free massages,” he laughed, pulling Ryan down to his chest again.
“I’m serious though,” Ryan insisted.
“I know,” Erik smiled. “I want more too. Always have.”
Ryan smiled, pushing himself up and moving to face Erik. “More as in you aren’t going to push me away if I kiss you right now?”
Erik smirked. “With that mustache?” he teased. “I should probably push you away on sheer principle.”
“Little shit,” Ryan laughed. “You’ve got one too.”
“Yeah, but mine is no where near as greasy as yours,” he grinned.
Ryan just shook his head and closed the distance between them, pressing their lips together. ‘Yeah,’ he thought. ‘Things were definitely going to get better.’