#bu terriers

she waited impatiently near the doors of the locker room awaiting her boyfriend's arrival. y/n's mind couldn't stop replaying the horror on her features and everyone else's when they saw the blood trickle down macklin's face after a nasty high stick hit. she knew he was okay because he was right back on the ice once the bleeding stopped, but the image wouldn't shake the girl's brain.

lingering after the game felt so long this time around and y/n wondered if it was just because she was anxious about seeing her boyfriend and properly checking up on him. she swiped through twitter and instagram continuously while video replays of the rookie's hit filled her feeds. she just shut her phone off all together for now, not being able to watch the play anymore.

finally, the players began trickling out. y/n's head popped up, searching for the eyes of macklin in the crowd. she spotted him with will near the middle of the pack and he immediately found her gaze. will sensed that they probably wanted to talk, so he split off from the boy once they got closer, giving a small nod to y/n as he passed.

"hey," macklin began, but was caught off guard when y/n jumped into his arms.

"let me see it," she grabbed ahold of his chin, turning his face to the side to examine the new scar.

"it's really not that bad now. they cleared it up really good," the brunette tried reassuring his girlfriend knowing she probably had a hundred thoughts running through her.

"you scared the shit out of me when i saw all that blood. it looked a lot worse," y/n stepped back, arms crossing over her chest.

macklin frowned at the sudden distance between them, "i'm sorry, baby. i promise i'm fine. see?" he gave his best grin hoping to further prove how he was doing.

"well, if i see wilson, i'm gonna punch him myself," y/n huffed, looking around like she would catch the older player lingering somewhere.

macklin laughed, tugging y/n into his side and kissing the side of her head, "you're so cute when you're upset. i promise i'm fine though. i mean you saw me play afterwards."

"yeah you fucking power played. i guess that was your redemption," the two exchanged a laugh and macklin enjoyed finally pulling a smile from her.

"can i come back to your place tonight?" the boy wondered as they moved themselves closer to the exit.

"i thought that was a given already," y/n chuckled.

macklin went to tell will they were leaving before rushing out of the SAP center so he wouldn't have to do any press. most days he didn't mind, but tonight the boy was itching to get out of there and spend some much needed time with his girl. they hadn't seen each other since last weekend—school and hockey keeping them way too busy.

"just so you know, i am gonna baby you the whole night," y/n informed once they were securely in her car.

"mm, i can't wait. a face mask is just calling my name," the hockey player leaned back in the passenger seat, hand falling to the girl's lap as she pulled out of the parking lot.

luckily, there was no early morning practice tomorrow, so macklin was gonna use that to his full advantage and spend the night in y/n's dorm. the couple rode in comfortable silence into santa clara university, a convenient 7 minutes away from the arena so y/n never missed a home game.

she parked her car again and the couple hurried into her building. the few students wandering around the lobby caught sight of macklin's suit he put back on, a few of them recognizing him from as a sharks player and as y/n's boyfriend because he was over so much.

they lucked out with y/n's roommate hanging out with her own boyfriend tonight, so they had the whole dorm to themselves. macklin immediately thew his backpack onto the ground and shoved his suit jacket from his shoulders.

"gonna shower. i didn't really before we left. you're welcome to join me if you want," the brunette winked at the girl who flushed.

"wow, so classy of you. i did already shower this morning, so i'll have to pass this time," y/n laughed.

"damn, i thought you'd say yes. you sure you don't wanna shower again?" he winked again. y/n groaned, pushing her boyfriend to the bathroom.

"i'll be out here with your face mask."

the rookie accepted his lonely shower fate and disappeared into the bathroom. y/n took the opportunity to tidy up the room and get all the things she needed for their face masks.

20 minutes later, macklin came back out of the bathroom freshly showered and in more comfortable clothes. y/n hung up his suit jacket on the door of her closet, instructing him to do the same with the rest of the outfit so it wouldn't wrinkle.

the boy climbed into her bed a second later, positioning himself against her pillows, "i'm readyy," he sang.

"i've never known you to be so excited for a face mask," y/n grinned.

"it really makes my skin smooth, so i like it," the boy explained.

y/n handed mack her headband so his hair wouldn't be in his face or in the mask. he didn't hesitate to slip it over his head and expose his forehead. the girl giggled at the sight.

"are you laughing at my big forehead?" the boy raised his eyebrow, hands finding places on y/n's hips as she straddled his waist.

"maybe," she hummed, leaning forward to begin rubbing the cream on his skin.

mack admired her focused expression while just really taking the time to take in every part of her as she applied the mask. this was his favorite part of face masks because he could stare at her without shame and she hardly noticed because she was too focused on the mask.

"have i told you how beautiful you are?" the brunette wondered softly. he watched the way y/n's cheeks heated up into a deep blush.

"you have," she muttered.

"well, i'm gonna say it again. you're really beautiful," mack grinned.

"you're sappy tonight," y/n flushed.

"what? can i not say how beautiful my girlfriend is?"

"no, you can. thank you," she finished spreading the mask, leaning back to admire her work.

"how's it look?"

"great. i'lll let you know when five minutes are up," the girl set a timer on her phone and then mack grabbed the mask cream from her hands before she could set it back on the dresser.

she looked at her boyfriend quizzically.

"can i do yours?" he wondered with a soft expression.

y/n blushed again, "just don't get it in my hair."

"promise, i won't," macklin agreed and y/n let him have at it.

his touch was gentle as his fingers began rubbing around her skin. his lip poked out from his lips as he focused on doing it right. y/n loved how much he wanted to do it correctly for her sake and his expression really was just to die for.

"okay, did it," macklin leaned back to admire his work the same way y/n did. she loved the proud little smile on his lips, pulling her camera up to examine how well he did.

"wow, looks great, mack. your best one yet," y/n agreed.

"what can i say? practice makes perfect," the boy hummed, placing everything back onto her dresser.

"so how's your lip doing now?" y/n wondered as mack's hands wandered across the expanse of her hips and waist.

"i can't even feel it anymore, so good. i told you i'm fine," he eyed her.

"i know, just let me be a worry wart."

the sharks player smiled at her words knowing how much she liked to worry about things, especially the things that didn't need to be worried about. he reached up to quickly peck her lips, tryng to avoid getting face mask on one another.

"i love you," the brunette said.

pre-trio (~2015)

will and leno, both massachusetts natives, meet at 9 years old playing against each other in junior hockey.

2021-2022

gabe, will, and leno become close playing together for the USA national team development u17 program.

starting this year, and throughout their time at the program, will and leno live together with will vote (one of will's junior teammates with the boston junior eagles and a friend to both of them for a long time). will smith's parents buy a house 15 minutes away from the development program, will smith's mother and will vote's mother alternate staying with the boys for two weeks at a time—flying to and from boston every two weeks. both leno's parents were working.

2022-2023

they play together again on the u18 team. they establish themselves as a great line.

win gold at u18 worlds playing together on a line.

gabe sets a new NTDP record for points in a single season with 132. this broke the previous points record, auston matthews’ 117.

summer 2023

they all commit to boston college. both will and leno had been pretty set on it—both massachusetts natives, will from lexington and leno from amherst, and will’s family has been going to BC for generations. gabe takes more convincing, but (as will says in his empty netters podcast) will basically pestered gabe until he decided to commit, saying that they worked so well as lineys and they couldn't split that up. also, at this point, they're really just best friends. (i think gabe, at this point, loved him too much to say no. by now, his life kind of revolves around will and leno.)

they get drafted! will is fourth overall to the san jose sharks (the highest draft in BC history), leno eighth to the washington capitals, gabe twenty third to the new york rangers. i think will and leno—leno especially—probably didn't like gabe’s spot very much. they both vehemently defend his prowess as a player; leno thinks he’s “the smartest player in the upcoming draft.” do with that what you will.

a few more of their NTDP friends get drafted and commit to BC: aram minnetian goes 125th to the dallas stars and commits to BC; drew fortescue goes 90th in the third round to the new york rangers and commits to BC.

will vote also commits to BC from the program

guess who else commits to a boston school! that’s right: macklin celebrini to boston university—who BC has a huge rivalry with. he’s the youngest kid in college hockey at 17 years old and probably the best.

2023-2024

we're finally at BC—yay!

gabe and will room together. gabe has said his favorite snack is milk and cookies—you know who else has roomed with will smith hockey and likes milk and cookies? YEAH. yeah you know who.

they major in communications, because really it’s not like this whole college thing was ever going to be permanent. IT WAS NEVER GOING TO BE PERMANENT. the expectation in college sports, especially with draft picks this high, is that they probably aren't going to stay at school. but anyways!!!! that’s not important right now!!!!!

will and leno have five out of five classes together, four out of five with gabe. (gabe is taking french—he’s already fluent, so. easy A!). they take a theater class together and are all assigned backstage crew instead of acting parts. rip!

they have a pretty great season. with the three of them on the first line, BC becomes elite offensively. they rise to the #1 spot in the nation a few times.

they play on a line at world juniors over new years and win gold for the US.

on january 26th and 27th, they face BU in the “battle of comm ave” for the first time as the #1 (BU) and #2 (BC) schools. on the 26th BC wins 4-1 with a both a gabe goal and a leno goal—gabe’s assisted by leno and will, leno’s assisted by gabe.

on february 5th, they face BU in the beanpot semi-final. BU shuts them down, heads on to lose the final against northeastern.

on march 23rd, they face BU in the hockey east final. BC wins 6-2, with four goals from will (one with the apple from gabe, one from leno), as well as a goal from gabe. macklin scores one of BU’s two goals 14:45 into the third period, when BC is already up 5-1. he doesn’t celebrate, just stands there in true macklin fashion. BC wins the hockey east championship, will gets tournament MVP.

on april 13th, bc’s season eventually ends in the national championship final against denver. they were shut out 2-0. leno starts crying, it’s fucking sickening.

summer of 2024

well, friends. here is where everything goes to shit.

on may 28th, will signs with the sharks.

2024-2025

this season is hell! xxx

gabe and leno are back at BC. their new liney—will’s replacement, pretty explicitly—is james hagens, an incoming freshman and prospected high draft pick. leno becomes an alternate captain.

gabe and leno go to world juniors—leno with the C, gabe with an A. they win gold, just like last year, except they don’t have will.

will is with the sharks achieving his—and gabe and leno’s—dreams of playing in the NHL, with macklin celebrini as a rookie wonders/soulmates duo.

the willgabeleno dynamic throughout this whole season is very we hug now sydney rose: “i have a feeling you got everything you wanted / and you’re not wasting time stuck here like me.” this sentiment from both sides at different points but largely from leno and gabe to will.

of course, the sharks’ season sucks. but will has a good year both with his performance—even though it started off rough—and especially just, like…whimsy-wise. even though they’re losing, he and mack are having so much fun, and there’s not a lot of pressure on them this year because nobody was expecting them to be able to turn things around for the team very fast. so will’s year becomes heavy on the fun and, as we all know, things are really centralized on his and mack’s relationship. the jersey bets, the sleepovers, the grinning as soon as anyone mentions the other guy!! they really just like each other so much, and they’re letting EVERYONE know about it.

gabe and leno…don’t have so much fun.

it’s not that they aren’t playing well, but without will, things are different. james hagens, as previously mentioned, is the replacement for will—and he’s not really...the same. the team holds a number one ranking for some of the season; end fourth. they have an overall ranking of 27–8–2. despite not being a bad team, we see them choke in higher stakes or more emotionally charged/narrative-heavy games.

on january 27th, mack wears will’s jersey from when he scored four goals in the hockey east final. they say they’d made a bet when BC and BU faced each other the weekend before. the sharks win that game.

this comes up again in february, when BC and BU are set to face each other in the beanpot. because the beanpot was during the four nations break, will and mack go to the game together. there’s talk about another jersey bet.

BU wins the beanpot. gabe opens the scoring with a leno assist, but that ends up being the only BC goal. gabe and leno and the entire BC team really don’t play very well. the final score is 1-4.

interestingly, will isn’t spotted at all with former teammates/with gabe and/or leno. he watches the game from a box; isn’t spotted going out afterwards. this doesn’t necessarily mean they didn’t see each other, but it’s weird especially in contrast with how much time mack spent with the BU team: he read the starting lineup with lane hutson, spent a lot of the game in the student section, took photos with the team on the ice, and was spotted out with them afterwards. again, could mean nothing, but it’s something to think about, especially considering that mack has basically no ties to the city of boston and even to the team, and will has EVERY tie to the city of boston and to the team. inch resting.

it takes a while, but will finally wears mack’s jersey on march 22nd, when the boston bruins come to san jose. (the sharks win that game, too. WHICH COULD MEAN NOTHING.)

a few days later, on the 28th, BC faces bentley in the frozen four semifinal and wins 3-1 with a goal from gabe (leno and hagens assists) and a goal from leno. Yay! but they haven’t won the natty yet…

and they never do. on the 30th of march, their season ends in a 3-1 loss to denver. (the same team they lost the natty to in the finals the year before, when leno cried and will helped him up.)

leno and gabe finally decide to sign NHL contracts. they do so right away: gabe to the new york rangers and leno to the washington capitals.

the rangers had a pretty bad season; were gunning for a wildcard spot they ultimately didn’t get when gabe signed. the caps, of course, had a pretty monumental one; leno signed with ovechkin only a few goals away from breaking gretzky’s record.

will reposts both instagram posts as well as the posts of their other BC friends who signed at this point. on everybody’s except for leno’s, he writes a little caption or puts an emoji. gabe had a red heart i believe? but leno’s was only the graphic.

neither of them makes an immediate impact. gabe is healthy scratched a few times (thank christ lavi is gone. i was about to riot.), doesn’t end up getting any points on the board. leno does get a goal, an empty netter with ovi one goal away from breaking the record. notably, will doesn’t post about his goal. leno had posted will’s first goal back at the start of the season.

gabe fits right in with the rangers. all of the vets seem to love him; he and othmann are fast friends and there’s also…That image of him and matt rempe at the last game of the season. lol. will smith hockey it’s OVER gabe has a new beautiful girlfriend now.

and leno fits right in with the caps! their ogapey love and deep barking voices are good for him. ovi calls him baby, babe, little kid leno. they all love him a lot. :-) of course, leno isn’t satisfied with all of the older men who would LOVE to make an impact on him. he likes will’s post announcing he’s going to worlds thirty minutes after a win. still in his pads i’m sure. many huge men shirtless around him and surely eager to bark at his feet. pathetic.

the caps make the playoffs but leno doesn’t make much of an impact. the rangers don’t make the postseason.

will goes to worlds and wins gold. he also finds time to hang out with mack, who played for canada, in sweden. i’m sure leno was so jealous it hurt.

on may 29th, leno finally posts on his instagram saying goodbye to BC. you’d think, after all their history, will would be featured in the post—right? WRONG.

leno’s post features, notably, gabe, james hagens, will vote, and teddy stiga. and no will. the first image is one of gabe and leno together on the ice—in a pose similar to the one will and mack are in in will’s end of season photodump

(i have some analysis of the post on my blog if you go to the #☀️ tag or the #asks tag.)

you thought it couldn't get worse? let’s go to the comments. gabe likes and replies to the post almost immediately. he says: “Brother for life , love you lean ❤️”. this is significantly more heartfelt than anything he’s commented on will’s posts.

a few hours after the first tower hits, the second one falls, and um. i nearly didn't make it. will comments—ON THE POST HE ISN’T FEATURED IN ONCE— “6934 🥲”. WHAT.

i should probably clarify that will’s college number was six, leno’s was nine, and gabe’s was thirty four. so will is referring to the bittersweetness that is the iconic, electric, and deeply emotionally complicated Freshman Line coming to an end. on a post that he isn't even in!!

another little note that doesn't fit anywhere: will and leno are both Good Repressed Catholic Boys. gabe doesn't wear a crucifix, but he does wear his father's number around his neck. do with this information what you will, because certainly it means something. (i talked about it here and here.) (edit: it seems as if it's actually just whatever number gabe is currently using. still, though, these numbers all come from his father's 94.)

tl;dr (because it’s the day after leno’s post dropped and i have nothing big left to add that i can think of), they’re fucking insane. we have reason to assume that they’ve had a falling out and it has something to do with leno’s desperate need to be wanted and increasing importance placed on loyalty—both things will has betrayed in his eyes—and the constant pain someone seems to be inflicting upon gabe at all times. (gabe takes more of a backseat in the Lashing Out, but i think his role in the falling out is fascinating and can't be overlooked: he’s got a steadiness and a need for things to Be Okay, even if he can't be wanted as he wants to be.)