as they say in hockey, let's do that hockey

title: if it's small enough to carry (you and i can call it home)

fandom: 9-1-1

pairing: buddie

rating: m

chapters: 1/?

tags: hurt/comfort, heavy angst, past rape/non-con, angst with a happy ending, kidnapping, alternate universe: different first meeting, found family, non-sexual intimacy, getting together

summary:

title: if it's small enough to carry (you and i can call it home)

fandom: 9-1-1

pairing: buddie

rating: m

chapters: 1/?

tags: hurt/comfort, heavy angst, past rape/non-con, angst with a happy ending, kidnapping, alternate universe: different first meeting, found family, non-sexual intimacy, getting together

summary:

The Penguins winger has been in Pittsburgh for a decade, owns a pair of Stanley Cup rings and is wealthy for life. He lost his no-movement protection on July 1, but he’s hopeful general manager Kyle Dubas will let him stay put anyway. A Rust trade could certainly produce a couple of young assets, if not more, in return. He’s eager to showcase why the Penguins should keep him, and on-ice production is merely the tip of the iceberg.

“For me, I just want to personally continue that winning culture that’s been in Pittsburgh for so long,” Rust said. “That good culture, that good character that’s been here, I want that to be passed along year after year so that culture doesn’t slip. To me, that’s important. To me, that’s a big deal.”

Rust doesn’t wear a letter on his sweater, but he doesn’t have to. He’s a leader if ever there has been one.

Big-game franchise giant? Check.

Clean as a whistle character? Check.

Ultra hard-worker? Check.

Self-made success story? Check.

Great with young players? Check.

“I really, really look up to that guy, probably more than anyone else in this room,” Philip Tomasino said.

“I didn’t know much about him when I got here,” Tomasino said. “I learned pretty quickly that he just does everything the right way. Awesome player. Awesome human. I’ve gone to him for advice. He always has time for you.”

To Rust, it’s more about the logo than anything else.

“I don’t want to speak for other guys in this room who have been around, even though I assume they feel the same,” Rust said. “But for me, personally, it’s just about the organization. This is the organization that gave me a chance. They took a chance on me a long time ago. A lot of people thought I was never going to develop into an NHL player, but they took that chance on me and they stood by me for a long time. Now I’m an NHL player because of that.”

“… Without this organization, I wouldn’t be the player I am,” he said.

As a result, he wants to be a Penguin for life.

“This organization has done right by me every step of the way, always treated me right,” Rust said.