I Met. A Stranger Yesterday - Mitch Marner
During practice, the Leafs notice Mitch is unusually happy. When Auston confronts him, Mitch reveals he met a girl while walking Zeusâa stranger sketching and giving away drawings. He gushes about her beauty and warmth. On their first date, the Leafs hilariously (and poorly) disguise themselves to spy and make sure sheâs good for their friend. - The Neighbourhood , *NSTYNCT
Mitch Marner x Reader , Leafs Players x Mitch Marner
The Neighbourhood Lyrics Masterlist - â
The sun streamed through the rink windows, casting golden streaks across the ice as the Toronto Maple Leafs wrapped up practice. The sharp slap of pucks and scrape of blades cut through the morning air, but none of the players could focus.
Because Mitch Marner wouldnât stop smiling.
And not his usual, cheeky, about-to-do-something-stupid grin. Noâthis was different. Softer. Dreamier. Like his head was stuck in the clouds.
Auston Matthews leaned against the boards, squinting at him.
âOkay, is it just me or is MitchâŚâ he tilted his head, searching for the right words.
âHappier than usual?â Morgan Rielly finished, skating up beside him.
William Nylander slid over, eyes narrowed slightly. âIf thatâs even possible.â
They all watched as Mitch practically floated across the ice, zipping around defensemen with ease, barely even flinching when he took a slap shot to the shin guard. Instead, he just skated it off with a dreamy little grin.
âOkay, thatâs not normal,â Willy muttered. âWhat the hell is going on?â
When practice ended, they made their way to the locker room, exchanging confused glances as they shed their gear.
Auston waited until Mitch plopped down on the bench, still smiling like he had a secret he couldnât keep.
âAlright, Marner,â Auston drawled, dropping down beside him. âSpill it.â
Mitch blinked at him, clearly still lost in thought. âSpill what?â
âYouâve been skating around like youâre in a rom-com montage. What gives?â
Mitchâs grin grew slightly wider, and his eyes softened just a little.
âOh,â he said with a dreamy shrug. âI met a stranger yesterday.â
Willy, who had been tugging off his skates, immediately whipped his head around. âYou what?â
But Mitch was already talking, the words spilling out faster than he could stop them.
âI was walking Zeus near the park,â he began, eyes lighting up. âAnd there was this girl sitting on a bench with a sketchbook. She was just⌠sketching people. Strangers. And then walking up and giving them the drawings. Like it was nothing.â
Auston blinked slowly. âShe was just⌠giving them away?â
âYeah,â Mitch breathed, still in awe. âNo charge, no signatures. Just handing them out.â
His eyes drifted slightly, lost in the memory.
âAnd then she saw me and Zeus,â he added softly. âAnd she just walked right up to meâno hesitationâand handed me this sketch.â
He fished out his phone from his bag, scrolling through his camera roll before holding it out. On the screen was a sketchâa perfect black-and-white rendering of Mitch standing with Zeus, the leash slack in his hand, and Zeusâ tongue lolling out with that goofy, wide-eyed grin. The details were sharp and preciseâthe slight curl of Zeusâ ears, the wind crinkling Mitchâs jacket.
âJesus,â Morgan muttered, staring at it.
âShe got everything,â Mitch murmured, still slightly in awe. âLike the way Zeus tilts his head. She didnât even know us or me! It was like sheâd seen us a hundred times before.â
Willy squinted slightly. âWait. Did you get her number?â
Auston stared at him, his jaw going slack.
Mitch just let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head slightly, still caught in the memory.
âI wasnât even thinking about it,â he admitted. âI was too busy watching her give Zeus a treat.â His lips twitched slightly, and his eyes softened. âShe knelt down right there in the grass and let him slobber all over her hands. Didnât even care. Just laughed when he tried to climb into her lap.â
He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, still smiling.
âShe had these big chocolate brown eyesâlike, really warm brown. And her hair was kinda messy, but she had these random little pink and red bows clipped in. Not fancyâjust mismatched ones, like she didnât care if they matched.â
Willy shook his head in disbelief. âYou met your dream girl and you didnât even get her number?â
And then, three days later, fate handed him a second chance.
Somehow, he ran into you again at a cafĂŠ near the parkâthe same place youâd been sketching.
This time, he didnât let you walk away without your number.
You werenât sure if you expected him to call, but he did. And two days later, you were sitting across from him at a cozy restaurant, nervously stirring your drink while he talked a mile a minute about Zeus.
What neither of you knew was that half the Maple Leafs roster had conspired behind Mitchâs back.
Because across the restaurant, poorly disguised in sunglasses, oversized coats, and awful wigs, sat Auston, Willy, Morgan, and John Tavers âblatantly spying on you.
Auston peeked over his fake menu, lowering his sunglasses slightly. âJesus,â he muttered. âHeâs actually giddy. Itâs disgusting.â
Willy, clutching an upside-down newspaper, made a face. âLook at him smiling like that. Itâs unnatural.â
Morgan took a slow sip of water, shaking his head dramatically. âItâs like heâs glowing. This is gross.â
John, squinting through a pair of fake reading glasses, whispered, âShould we, like⌠signal her if she needs help?â
Auston shot him a deadpan look. âSheâs dating Marner, not a serial killer.â
Instead, they watched as Mitch absently reached across the table, tucking a loose strand of your hair behind your ear, his fingers lingering a little longer than necessary.
âOh my God,â Willy muttered, dragging a hand down his face. âHeâs a goner.â
They exchanged glances when they caught the way Mitch was looking at youâlike you were the only person in the room.
And when you laughedâsoft and genuineâMitch practically melted in his seat.
Auston slowly lowered his glasses. âOh, man,â he whispered, shaking his head. âHeâs done for.â
But despite the teasing, they all knew what they were seeing.
Their friendâtheir goofy, golden retriever-hearted friendâwas head over heels.
And they were going to make damn sure he didnât screw it up.