#competitive

(unedited version also shown)

Less of a focus to Perry and Stacy, more to Perry being able to “put the hat down” and relax.

John Logan x Figure Skater reader Fanfic

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Part 6: Lucky Charm

The first time I went to the hockey house was completely by accident.

At least, that's what I told myself.

The truth was that Hannah had texted me seventeen times in the span of twenty minutes, Allie had called twice, and Milo had shown up outside my apartment threatening to physically carry me there if I didn't stop hiding in my room.

I'd lost the argument the moment he showed up with coffee.

The bribery was unfortunately extremely effective.

"You know," I said as we walked across campus, "most normal siblings don't force each other into social situations."

Milo shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket.

"Most normal siblings aren't twins AND don't spend six hours alone doing homework on a Friday night."

"I had things to do."

"You color-coded your notes."

"Exactly."

"That isn't helping your case."

I rolled my eyes.

The late afternoon air was cool, carrying the first hints of winter. Students wandered across campus in small groups, laughter drifting through the walkways as the sun began its slow descent behind the buildings.

Briar felt different lately.

Warmer.

Less intimidating.

When I'd first arrived, every path had felt unfamiliar. Every building had seemed too big. Every face had been another reminder that I was starting over.

Now I found myself recognizing people, knowing shortcuts, having places I preferred, people I preferred.

Which was somehow even more terrifying because getting attached meant having something to lose.

The hockey house came into view a few minutes later.

I immediately regretted everything.

"No."

Milo grinned.

"Yes."

"No."

"Too late."

The front door swung open before we even reached it.

Dean appeared.

Unfortunately.

The second his eyes landed on me, his face lit up.

"Ice Princess!"

I stopped walking.

"Goodbye."

I turned around.

Dean sprinted down the porch steps.

"Get back here."

"I'm leaving."

"You literally just got here."

"I've changed my mind."

"You don't get to do that."

I pointed at him.

"Watch me."

Before either of us could continue, Garrett appeared in the doorway.

"Dean."

"What?"

"Leave her alone."

Dean looked genuinely offended.

"I'm being welcoming."

"You literally chased her."

"I chased her affectionately."

Garrett rubbed a hand over his face.cThe expression suggested this was a conversation they'd had before... Probably more than once.

Eventually Garrett looked at me.

"Ignore him."

"Trust me," I said. "I'm trying."

Dean gasped dramatically.

"I bring joy to this household."

"You bring property damage to this household."

"One time."

"Three times."

"Details."

I found myself laughing before I could stop it. The sound surprised me. Not because it happened, but because it happened so easily.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The hockey house quickly became a regular thing.

At first, I'd only stop by when Hannah or Allie invited me. But then it became grabbing dinner after class, then study sessions, then movie nights, then somehow everyone started assuming I'd be there.

Including me.

The weirdest part wasn't Dean.

Though Dean certainly contributed.

The weirdest part was how easily everyone made room for me.

Nobody asked me questions or expected anything, or cared whether I won competitions, or landed jumps, or came in first.

I wasn't the figure skater.

I was just... Y/N.

The concept still made me slightly uneasy.

A week later, I found myself sitting at the kitchen counter trying to finish an economics assignment while chaos unfolded around me.

Dean was arguing with Garrett which seemed to be a regular thing.

I wasn't entirely sure what the argument was about.

Neither of them seemed entirely sure either.

Tucker stood at the stove cooking something that smelled incredible.

The television blared from the living room.

Someone upstairs dropped something heavy.

They lived such a normal, messy life.

Tucker glanced over his shoulder.

"Have you eaten?"

I looked up.

"Huh?"

"Today."

The question caught me off guard.

"Yeah."

His eyes narrowed.

I immediately knew I'd answered too quickly.

Damn it.

"Y/N."

"I had coffee."

Tucker stared.

I stared back.

The silence lasted approximately three seconds.

Then he pointed toward the stove.

"Sit."

"I'm literally working."

"Sit."

"Tucker "

"Sit."

For reasons I couldn't explain, I obeyed.

Five minutes later a plate appeared in front of me.

I blinked.

"Tucker."

"Eat."

The tone left absolutely no room for argument.

I looked down at the food.

Then back at him.

Then back at the food.

Something uncomfortable tightened in my chest.

Because nobody had ever done things like this for me before.

Not without expecting something in return.

Not without it somehow connecting back to skating.

Tucker simply shrugged.

"Can't study if you're unconscious."

I laughed softly.

Then picked up my fork.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The hockey game happened two weeks later.

To be very honest, I wouldn't have gone if Dean hadn't practically kidnapped me.

"I have practice."

"The game's after practice."

"I have homework."

"You always have homework."

"I need sleep."

Dean looked horrified.

"Sleep is just a temporary thing."

I stared.

He stared back.

Neither of us blinked.

Finally Garrett sighed.

"Just come to one game. Please."

I looked around.

At all of them.

At Hannah.

At Allie.

At Milo.

Everyone in the room.

"You planned this didn't you."

"Maybe," Hannah admitted.

I pointed accusingly.

"You betrayed me Hannah.", I said with a playfully sad face

"That's what I'm here for.", She said playing into my little theatrics

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The arena was packed. Students filled the stands, music echoed through the building. The energy was completely different from figure skating. The figure skating crowds watched quietly.

Everything about it felt sterile. But not this...

Hockey was chaos.

Everyone was screaming, cheering, banging against the glass. And just enjoying and having fun.

Someone behind me was already losing their voice which was funny because the game hadn't even started.

I found myself smiling despite myself.

The team looked different on the ice.

Faster.

Sharper.

Especially Logan...

There was something fascinating about watching someone do the thing they loved. The thing they understood better than breathing.

I recognized the feeling.

Because skating did that to me.

The game itself was a blur.

Every time I thought I understood what was happening, somebody got checked into a wall and all understanding disappeared.

Still, I found myself invested, yelling and cheering with the crowd.

Actually caring.

When Briar scored the winning goal, the arena practically exploded.

The crowd surged to its feet.

Students screamed.

The team celebrated.

Beside me, Dean looked like he'd personally won the championship.

"This is your fault."

I blinked.

"What?"

"We won."

"...Yes."

"You came."

I frowned.

"Dean."

His eyes widened.

"Oh my God."

"No."

"Oh my God."

"Dean."

He pointed dramatically.

"She's a lucky charm."

The entire group immediately started laughing.

I looked toward Garrett for support which was a mistake because he looked amused too.

"You realize that's insane, right?"

"Nope."

"Dean."

"Nope."

"Dean."

"Not listeningggg."

I dropped my head into my hands.

From somewhere beside me, Logan laughed.

The sound warmed something inside me

The kind of laugh that happened when someone was genuinely happy.

"You know he's never letting this go."

I looked up.

Logan was smiling.

Actually smiling.

Not smirking.

Not teasing.

Just, smiling.

Something strange fluttered in my stomach. I ignored it immediately.

"You're all ridiculous."

"Maybe."

His eyes met mine.

"But we still won."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The problem with Dean Di Laurentis was that he committed to things. Without any hesitation or reason.

The very next game, my phone exploded.

Dean 🌹: there's a game tonight.

Dean 🌹: Be there. And i'm not asking.

Dean 🌹: Lucky charms are mandatory.

Me: No.

Dean 🌹: Errrr! Wrong answer.

Me: I have a life.

Dean 🌹: Highly debatable...

Three minutes later Garrett texted.

Garret💪🏼: Just come please.

Then Hannah.

Then Allie.

Then Milo.

By the end of the day I found myself sitting in the stands again. And to no ones surprise, Briar won. I mean of course they did.

Dean became even more unbearable this time. But now I didn't really mind it anymore.

Because as I sat surrounded by people who saved seats for me without asking...

People who texted me when I wasn't around...

People who noticed when I looked tired...

For the first time since arriving at Briar, I realized something.

Briar didn't feel temporary anymore.

It didn't feel like a stop on the way to something else.

It felt like home.

And maybe that should have scared me. Maybe it would have a few months ago.

Instead, as Dean yelled about lucky charms and Garrett threatened to throw him into a snowbank, I found myself laughing so hard my stomach hurt.

I finally felt like i was creating the family I always wanted.

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Patreon suggestion box request for Patroclus, who asked for an AU where Ryan and Nes competed together on Legends of the Hidden Temple as kids. Of course, I had to anthropomorphize Olmec too. Considering they're standing right next to him, they must be in the last round! Gotta win that Space Camp trip. :D

#567 Mismatched

I think we have a chance