#mr44

During practice, the Leafs notice Mitch is unusually happy. When Auston confronts him, Mitch reveals he met a girl while walking Zeus—a 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 she’s good for their friend. - The Neighbourhood , *NSTYNCT

Mitch Marner x Reader , Leafs Players x Mitch Marner

Warnings: None

The Neighbourhood Lyrics Masterlist - ⌂

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 wouldn’t stop smiling.

And not his usual, cheeky, about-to-do-something-stupid grin. No—this was different. Softer. Dreamier. Like his head was stuck in the clouds.

Auston Matthews leaned against the boards, squinting at him.

“Okay, is it just me or is Mitch…” he tilted his head, searching for the right words.

“Happier than usual?” Morgan Rielly finished, skating up beside him.

William Nylander slid over, eyes narrowed slightly. “If that’s even possible.”

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.

“Okay, that’s not normal,” Willy muttered. “What the hell is going on?”

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 couldn’t keep.

“Alright, Marner,” Auston drawled, dropping down beside him. “Spill it.”

Mitch blinked at him, clearly still lost in thought. “Spill what?”

“You’ve been skating around like you’re in a rom-com montage. What gives?”

Mitch’s grin grew slightly wider, and his eyes softened just a little.

“Oh,” he said with a dreamy shrug. “I met a stranger yesterday.”

Willy, who had been tugging off his skates, immediately whipped his head around. “You what?”

But Mitch was already talking, the words spilling out faster than he could stop them.

“I was walking Zeus near the park,” he began, eyes lighting up. “And 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.”

Auston blinked slowly. “She was just… giving them away?”

“Yeah,” Mitch breathed, still in awe. “No charge, no signatures. Just handing them out.”

His eyes drifted slightly, lost in the memory.

“And then she saw me and Zeus,” he added softly. “And she just walked right up to me—no hesitation—and handed me this sketch.”

He fished out his phone from his bag, scrolling through his camera roll before holding it out. On the screen was a sketch—a perfect black-and-white rendering of Mitch standing with Zeus, the leash slack in his hand, and Zeus’ tongue lolling out with that goofy, wide-eyed grin. The details were sharp and precise—the slight curl of Zeus’ ears, the wind crinkling Mitch’s jacket.

“Jesus,” Morgan muttered, staring at it.

“She got everything,” Mitch murmured, still slightly in awe. “Like the way Zeus tilts his head. She didn’t even know us or me! It was like she’d seen us a hundred times before.”

Willy squinted slightly. “Wait. Did you get her number?”

Mitch blinked.

“…No.”

Auston stared at him, his jaw going slack.

“Are you serious?”

Mitch just let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head slightly, still caught in the memory.

“I wasn’t even thinking about it,” he admitted. “I was too busy watching her give Zeus a treat.” His lips twitched slightly, and his eyes softened. “She knelt down right there in the grass and let him slobber all over her hands. Didn’t even care. Just laughed when he tried to climb into her lap.”

He rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, still smiling.

“She had these big chocolate brown eyes—like, really warm brown. And her hair was kinda messy, but she had these random little pink and red bows clipped in. Not fancy—just mismatched ones, like she didn’t care if they matched.”

Willy shook his head in disbelief. “You met your dream girl and you didn’t even get her number?”

Mitch just grinned.

And then, three days later, fate handed him a second chance.

⸻

Somehow, he ran into you again at a café near the park—the same place you’d been sketching.

This time, he didn’t let you walk away without your number.

You weren’t 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 Mitch’s back.

Because across the restaurant, poorly disguised in sunglasses, oversized coats, and awful wigs, sat Auston, Willy, Morgan, and John Tavers —blatantly spying on you.

Auston peeked over his fake menu, lowering his sunglasses slightly. “Jesus,” he muttered. “He’s actually giddy. It’s disgusting.”

Willy, clutching an upside-down newspaper, made a face. “Look at him smiling like that. It’s unnatural.”

Morgan took a slow sip of water, shaking his head dramatically. “It’s like he’s glowing. This is gross.”

John, squinting through a pair of fake reading glasses, whispered, “Should we, like… signal her if she needs help?”

Auston shot him a deadpan look. “She’s dating Marner, not a serial killer.”

But none of them left.

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.

“Oh my God,” Willy muttered, dragging a hand down his face. “He’s a goner.”

They exchanged glances when they caught the way Mitch was looking at you—like you were the only person in the room.

And when you laughed—soft and genuine—Mitch practically melted in his seat.

Auston slowly lowered his glasses. “Oh, man,” he whispered, shaking his head. “He’s done for.”

But despite the teasing, they all knew what they were seeing.

Their friend—their goofy, golden retriever-hearted friend—was head over heels.

And they were going to make damn sure he didn’t screw it up.

Leafs Media Availability Playoff Practice, April 30, 2025

Reporter: "Whether you do or not, it's really on these core guys to make this work, is it not?"

January 31, 2017

EXPO ARTS CENTER

by Mr44