# no dark days anymore

❝   oh,   shit.   sorry,   i   didn’t   know   you   were   home.   ❞   quickly,   she   wipes   away   a   tear.   suddenly   embarrassed   for   the   yelling   match   she   just   had   with   his   son   before   he   stormed   out   of   the   house.   ❝   i’m   sorry   you   had   to   hear   all   that.   ❞

having  two  twenty-somethings  under  his  roof  hadn't  exactly  been  part  of  the  plan  –––  nor  was  having  to  witness  the  couple  fight  on  an  alarmingly  regular  basis.  had  his  son  always  been  such  a  shithead?  “  no  need  to  apologize,  ”  reassurance  a  low  murmur  as  pads  into  the  kitchen.  though  eyes  watch  her  as  he  rounds  the  island.  “  you  alright?  ”  opens  the  fridge  to  retrieve  a  bottle  of  water,  sliding  it  across  the  countertop  toward  her.  pauses  a  moment  ;  not  wanting  to  overstep.  “  he's  always  been  a  bit  …  ”  entitled.  spoiled.  unwilling  to  change  either  characteristic  no  matter  how  hard  wes  tried.  “  i'm  sorry.  ”

notices   the   chill   that   dances   over   exposed   arms   and   ,   without   hesitancy   ,   is   shrugging   off   his   dress   jacket   ,   and   hanging   it   gently   over   her   shoulders   .   doesn't   think   about   how   she   may   perceive   it   — maybe   he's   overstepping   ,   maybe   she'll   bite   his   head   off   for   crossing   some   unspoken   boundary   about   hockey   players   and   their   coats   touching   her   perfectly   untarnished   skin   .   either   way   ,   he's   settling   against   the   railing   and   diverting   his   attention   elsewhere   once   she's   taken   the   joint   between   plush   lips   .   a   hard   feat   considering   her   presence   at   his   side   is   similar   to   a   phantom   ear   worm   that   won't   go   away   .   her   words   ,   albeit   not   the   harshest   she's   spoken   ,   have   his   chest   growing   taut   .   memory   flashing   of   his   ex   ,   a   woman   he   thought   he'd   marry   one   day   (   what   a   crock   of   shit   that   was   )   ,   and   he   sniffs   .   "   hasn't   been   ten   minutes   .   "   points   out   ,   voice   harder   than   it   was   before   .   "   there   you   go   ,   makin'   assumptions   'bout   shit   you   know   nothin'   about   .   "   takes   the   dart   from   between   her   fingertips   blindly   and   brings   it   to   his   lips   ,   inhaling   the   smoke   deep   into   his   lungs   .   the   burn   ignites   his   chest   and   he   lets   it   ,   holding   it   until   it   makes   his   head   dizzy   and   light   -   headed   .   doesn't   even   notice   that   she'd   snatched   his   lighter   ,   not   until   thumb   absentmindedly   goes   to   stroke   the   initials   and   is   met   with   dead   air   .   fingers   flex   into   his   palm   instead   and   he's   finally   expelling   cloud   of   smoke   into   the   air   ,   tilting   his   head   back   and   allowing   silence   to   blanket   them   for   a   brief   moment   .   they   feel   a   million   worlds   away   up   here   — away   from   the   chaos   of   the   city   traffic   ,   the   thumping   music   ,   the   boisterous   fake   laughter   .   if   only   they   left   her   hatred   for   him   back   there   ,   too   .   "   right   ,   forgot   you're   too   good   for   that   .   "   for   anything   ,   apparently   .   "   won't   let   it   happen   again   .   "

warmth  draped  over  her  shoulders  has  her  stiffening  with  surprise.  the  jacket  dwarfs  her,  enveloping  her  in  fabric  and  the  scent  of  his  cologne.  gesture  a  kindness  wouldn’t  have  expected  from  him   –––   not  with  her  tendency  to  bite  his  head  off  when  in  each  other’s  presence.  an  odd  feeling  floods  her  chest.  something  akin  to  guilt.  her  “  thank  you  ”  a  low  murmur.  grateful  for  the  burn  of  smoke  in  her  lungs  ;  gradually  numbing  frayed  edges  of  the  remnants  of  her  feelings.  shouldn’t  have  elected  to  smoke  with  someone  who  wasn’t  maxen,  the  only  one  allowed  to  see  her.  with  some  exceptions.  dark  gaze  only  briefly  leaps  over  to  him  with  the  reminder  ;  posture  tensing  further.  difference  in  kit’s  tone  unmissable   –––   stark  contrast  to  typical  hints  of  amusement.  “  you  gleefully  take  advantage  of  the  puck  bunnies’  interest  and  don’t  date.  what  am  i  supposed  to  think?  ”  lacks  her  usual  bite  ;  a  hint  of  sincerity  in  the  question.  yet  kit  seems  inclined  to  perceive  every  word  out  of  her  mouth  as  overly  bitchy  ;  not  sure  her  intention  matters  either  way  by  now.  realization  that  halts  her  fingertips  tracing  over  the  letters  embossed  into  the  side  of  the  lighter.  instead  reaches  over  to  slip  it  back  into  his  free  hand  before  tucking  both  of  hers  beneath  his  jacket.  even  still  …  –––   “  cw?  yours?  ”  moment  it  passes  her  lips,  amaya  doesn’t  know  why  she  bothered.  silence  is  so  thick  around  them,  fully  expects  him  to  simply  ignore  her.  wouldn’t  blame  him.  gaze  goes  unfocused  staring  out  at  the  city   –––   exhaustion  from  the  party’s  attendees  and  palpable  dislike  between  them  making  it  difficult  for  her  to  enjoy  it.  being  so  far  away  from  life  ;  from  people  ;  from  everything.  dark  arches  knit  together,  a  brief  flash  of  confusion  on  her  features  before  smoothing  out.  eases  a  step  to  the  side  —  away  from  him  —  without  noticing.  “  i  just  meant  we’re  not  fri––  whatever.  ”  amaya  eases  the  jacket  off  her  shoulders,  folding  it  over  the  railing.  she  was  too  fucking  tired  for  this.  “  we  both  know  you’re  only  intrigued  —  or  whatever  —  by  me  because  i’m  not  falling  at  your  feet.  no  use  pretending  like  we  have  anything  to  talk  about.  ”  she  turns  back  toward  the  way they came  ;  ignoring  the  inexplicable  ache  in  her  chest.  “  enjoy  the  rest  of  your  night.  ”

〝 how long are you planning on pretending to ignore me for? 〞she calls out from the steps, timbre playful as her gaze connects with the other ––– still on the ice as he pretends to continue practicing, even though his teammates are long gone. ashanti was waiting for her father, whom was still in the office but fem decided to wait out here, wondering how long it would take for blaise to utter a word to her. 〝 because you've been looking at me all day. what, did my dad tell you to stay away from me? 〞

lyrical cadence echoes through the otherwise empty rink ––– drawing him to a sharp halt on the ice, skates cutting against the ice. lifts helmet to rest atop his head, clearing his view as he turns toward the woman over on the steps. pauses a beat before gliding toward her ––– pace much slower than how had been carving up the frozen surface a moment ago. “ yes, ” comes his honest response. “ he did. ” considering his no relationships mantra, it seemed like a good rule to follow. an order. comes to a stop, leaning against the boards. “ sorry, princess. ” lips curve in a smile, pulling his gloves off. “ 's a nice view, though. ”

fuck. eyes land on amaya and he doesn’t have time to retreat, to hide because she’s seen him too. atlas’ heart pitter patters like he’s a teenager. she’s always elicited that feeling from him and that’s why he had to put an end to this. ( ‘this’ being him selling her weed ). but it was getting in the way of things. atlas couldn’t focus on anything but amaya, and he was a coward when it came to his feelings. fingers wrap around the beer she’d brought over, tapping nervously as her gaze burns into him - - and he wonders if she can read his mind, see all the frantic emotions fighting one another just because she’s near. “you’ll find one, i swear,” voice is soft, eyes flickering down at the table when amaya brings up the text. “listen…i just think it’s dangerous,” atlas shrugs, keeping it vague, “it’s better you go find someone else.”

last text she had received from atlas had — in truth — been quite clear. yet left her perplexed nonetheless. the pair had a good rapport, decent enough banter, perhaps a touch flirty, but … amaya still found herself shocked. hadn't a clue that he was fighting those type of feelings. she takes the opportunity of his averted gaze to look him over ––– all broad shoulders and defined muscles ; handsome face and chocolate brown eyes ; and a lush bottom lip begging to be trapped between her teeth–– wait, where had that come from? “ did i — i don't know — miss paying you? offend you in some way? ” hands rest at the edge of the table, half considering pushing off and leaving him be. “ dangerous? ” incredulity dripping from the repeated word. “ i don't bite, y'know. ” ––– “ well, unless you ask me to. ” lips twitch with hints of a smirk. jesus, this was so unlike her : wondering about a man's attention diverting from her. manicured nails click against the lacquered surface of the table before straightening back up to her feet. “ alright. ” clears her throat softly. “ good luck to you, then. ”

it's a never-ending cycle : flirt, never let anyone see beneath the surface, rinse, and repeat. that's all luc knew. it was his only way to navigate through life - - don't let anyone in. green hues flicker up across the bar and lock with his favorite eyes. scratch that - - don't let anyone in, except for cassian. luc sends a wink cassian's way before he turns back to the woman he's shamelessly been flirting with. hand rests on her waist as they exchange numbers and preens under her touch as a manicured nail trails along his cheek. they part ways and luc gravitates towards cassian. there's a fond roll of his eyes and he shakes his head, "you know me, cass. i'm unfit for love." head tilts to the side, "you look handsome," he muses, brushing fingers against the collar of cassian's shirt, stepping closer. voice drops, gaze growing hazy. "have you fallen in love tonight?"

could only be described as masochistic : circling back to luc time and again. letting him into his life, his apartment, his bed. his heart. allowing someone else to trample all over him and walk away like it's nothing. dark gaze watching the other man flirt so shamelessly, cassian has half a mind to just walk out. especially when the taunting wink is thrown in his direction. “ so you say, ” muttered more to himself. stiffens at the compliment, gaze dropping to the wood of the bar. but the proximity… eyes are drawn back to luc's face like magnets. too easy : to get lost in his beauty. cassian can barely see beyond a few feet in front of him, watching that look in the other's eyes. “ tonight? ” repeats stupidly — numbly. “ not tonight, no. ” had foolishly fallen ages ago. feels as if the air has thinned, turning his breathing ragged. “ you not gonna … ? ” he nods back toward the woman he had been flirting with. even if he can't take his eyes off luc. “ i was––– i should get going anyway. ” a lie — but he could use the fresh air.

eyes roll as he pulls her toward him but she doesn't fight it, fingers twitch at her sides, wanted to touch him –– to wrap her arms around him too but ashanti was still mad, refused to give in to displays of affection. 〝 well, i didn't think i'd have anything to worry about because she's a desperate whore. but apparently that's your type now. 〞ashanti rarely spoke about people, especially women in such a way but callie really, really, irritated fem to the max she didn't care how she might have sounded. 〝 i don't wanna say why, okay? it's embarrassing. it just sucks that i have to share you with her, of all people. 〞

choice of words has his eyebrows shooting skyward. that type of language was so unlike her, so out of character ––– and that's how he knows it's bad. that he fucked up no matter how little this callie girl meant to him. shit, he hardly remembered her at all. “ you are my type, ” he affirms ––– enunciating each syllable like it'll drive the point home in that stubborn mind of hers. “ you're not sharing me with her. shanti, i honestly forgot she even existed until you mentioned her five minutes ago. ” draws her in right up against his chest, head dipping down to skim his lips over her forehead. “ fine. don't tell me. all i'm telling you is: it won't be a repeat offense, okay? ” finally presses a kiss to her forehead. “ promise. ”

〝 right but you like a lot of nerdy things, i thought this was one of them. 〞he chuckles, hues tracing the length of her figure before being forced back to staring at the screen, the camera moving from nora's infatuation to his. 〝 actually, no . . 〞he laughs again, arms reaching out to pull fem onto his lap, thumb caressing her thigh. 〝 aragorn isn't the hot one it's legolas, babe. but i was not looking at him. i was looking at arwen. 〞presses a kiss against red lips before she can argue over their movie crushes, nodding at her suggestion. 〝 i do like fighting men who look at you, to be fair. 〞

dark arches move skyward. “ this is the nerdy thing. it's practically the centerpiece of my personality. it's where my name comes from, babe. ” soft huff exhaled, gaze flicking to the screen again. “ and besides, something can be nerdy and cool at the same time. ” there was a reason the movies were so beloved even two decades later, after all. yet, an indignant scoff escapes her at the insult to her fictional husband. “ legolas? over aragorn? are you drunk already? ” makes a point of sniffing his breath when he steals that kiss. “ mm-mm, ” nora shakes her head, getting up from his lap. “ no, we're staying in and watching all three now. extended editions. i don't care ––– i've been waiting for this moment since we met and i'm not letting the opportunity slip through my fingers. ”

"practice doesn't start for you for another half hour," the brunette points out, slender legs gliding over the pristine ice as she finishes a flawless sequence of inner counter turns. her attention is solely on him then, as it often was even if she wasn't allowed to. "which means you're early, and if my dad catches you here you'll be in big trouble."

“ i'll be in trouble for showing up early to practice? ” incredulity drips from each word while gliding toward her on the ice ; repeating it back so she can hear just how preposterous it sounds. blaise comes to a stop mere feet from her ––– eyes flick over her face. examining each beautiful feature as if he hasn't seen her a million times before. “ 'm just here to work on my puck handling. ” he shrugs, absently turning the stick in his hands. “ you don't mind if i use the other end, do you? ”

"that sounded .. embarrassing," words come out laced with an amused chuckle right before he takes a bottle of beer from the refrigerator, closing the door with a soft click of his heel. "did you even cum? because i can tell a fake orgasm when i hear one."

“ can you? ” no beat of hesitation before the retort is falling from her lips. “ that poor girl the other day sure sounded like she was faking it. ” eyebrows raise, shooting him a pointed look as she takes a seat at the kitchen counter. no matter that it had been a less than satisfactory fucking ; damn well wouldn't be telling him that. “ remind me to start playing music when i'm having sex so you can stop eavesdropping like a perv. ”

blaise caruso ── late 20s. he / him. hockey player ( right wing ; vancouver canucks ). bel.mont cameli. cassian santori ── mid 20s. he / him. contractor. antonio c.ipriano. dillon james ── late 20s. he / him. software engineer & data analyst. s.tephen kalyn. gavriel liyanage ── late 20s. he / him. hockey player ( defenseman ; boston bruins ). j.osh heuston. maxen combs ── mid 20s. he / him. nhl player ( left wing ; montréal canadiens ). twin brother to amaya. r.yan manick. orion velasco ── mid – late 20s. he / him. soccer player ( midfield ; liverpool fc ). c.ameron porras. amaya combs ── mid 20s. she / her. consultant. twin sister to maxen. a.shton wood. araceli molina ── late 20s. she / her. product designer, makeup & beauty. va.lentina zenere. elanor "nora" jatene ── mid 20s. she / her. english literature grad student. mika ab.dalla. morgana "ana" baumer ── late 20s – early 30s. she / her. sports data analyst. a.deline rudolph. meliha yıldız ── mid – late 20s. she / her. author ( romance, fantasy ). türkü su demi.rel.

the one night stand not being particularly good for him makes her feel a little better ––– okay, a lot better but still, callie evans was ashanti's mortal enemy since the tenth grade, how did he expect her to react? 〝 well, now i'm pissed that you're giving me graphic details. i don't want to know what you did with her! holding her hand is bad enough. 〞lips form a pout as brown eyes look up at him, arms crossing over her chest. 〝 be serious? does it look like i'm joking? you're not coming anywhere near me now i know you went down on her for - fucking - ever. 〞timbre mocks his as she shakes her head, maybe . . just maybe, she was a little jealous.

second the specifics pass his lips, blaise is wincing internally. not the right thing to say, at all. though nose scrunches in distaste. “ when the fuck was i holdin' her hand? ” that wasn't his thing ––– it sent the wrong message, while he was trying to refrain from romance as a whole. nevermind that he held shanti's hand all the god damn time. gaze never straying from her face, blaise reaches forward slowly, hooking a finger into a belt loop and drawing her toward him. “ what's really going on here, hmm? ” other hand finds her hip, sliding around to the small of her back once she's close enough. “ if someone was off-limits, you could have just told me from the get-go. ”

〝 nah, i'm still coming ––– obviously. you look good, can't let that go to waste. i just ––– i maybe put lord of the rings back on while i was waiting for you and i'm kinda into it. i didn't know it was this good, i can't lie. 〞

gaze slowly flicks away from him and over to the screen, and–– yup, there he is on screen : the love of her life. looks over to theo again. “ let me get this straight, ” nora points over at the screen. “ i have been trying to convince you to watch the trilogy with me for as long as we've been dating, and now you get into it? ” hands rest on her hips ; unsure if she's unimpressed or relieved. “ what was it : fall in love with aragorn? ” smile quickly falls, glaring over at him. “ only one of us is allowed to be in love with aragorn in this relationship and that's already me. so why don't you turn off fellowship of the ring–– ” words she never thought she would say, “ ––and come out to fight men staring at my tits all night, yeah? ”

〝 okay, woah ––– calm down. i'm not pissed about that. 〞shakes her head, offended scoff leaves her lips, as if shanti would ever care that homme was sleeping with other people. 〝 i'm pissed because out of anyone you could've chosen, you decided to fuck callie when you know how much i hate her. 〞

expression momentarily blank as he stares at her ––– partly in disbelief, partly trying to remember who the fuck she's talking about. that was a bad look and deeply uncharacteristic. “ shanti, ” he starts, shaking his head slowly. “ are you serious? ” eyebrows raise, rubbing a hand over his face. “ miss me with this high school bullshit, please. ” bitter laughter falls from his lips as he takes a step back. “ you're pissed over a shitty handjob and her demanding — demanding — i go down on her for-fucking-ever for a one-night-stand? be serious, shanti. ”