good luck kisses with hockey player!mark

↳ hockey player!mark x reader

based on this by @renminculture (for @syubstan bc u,,, rbed it,, idk just needed an excuse to write another fic for u)

Mark looks especially small when he’s drowning in his hockey jersey and padding.  He’s gnawing on a mouth guard dangling past his lips and struggling to the put his head through his helmet with his gloves already on, despite having performed the action hundreds of times.

Your college is small enough that the hockey team’s budget is low and the bench and penalty box are just the bottom row of the bleachers, so when you sit in the second row, you can yell loud enough to get Mark’s attention from the bench where he sits, fighting his helmet.  So when you shout “Hey!” he whips his head around and grins when he notices you.  

His teammates are already on the ice and he really should be warming up with them, but he doesn’t mind wasting a few more minutes to talk to you.

“You made it,” he says with a warm smile.  Your stomach bursts into butterflies at the way his cheekbones rise and his eyes turn into crescents.

“Of course! It’s the semifinals and my best friend is the star player. I wouldn’t miss it.”  If Mark wasn’t already red from the freezing temperature of the indoor rink, he was definitely red now.  “You’re going to be great,” you tell him, hoping to calm some of his nerves.

He releases a deep sigh and you see his shoulders relax a little.  “Thank s. If we win you’ll get wings with us right?”

You nod in affirmation and Mark opens his mouth to say something else, but before he can his coach is yelling, “Lee get on the ice, now!”

Mark shouts a quick, “Yes, sir!” over his shoulder before fumbling with his helmet again.

“Here give it to me,” you tell him and he hands the helmet over to you.  

Figuring this is your chance, you lean down, plant a quick kiss on his cheek, and shove the helmet onto his head all in one motion. “For good luck,” you tell him, a little breathless.  

Mark opens and closes his mouth twice before his coach is yelling again. “Lee! Ice! Now!”  He all but turns and runs for the door to the rink, tripping over his skates as he does.

Two minutes into the game and you’re starting to regret that little peck, wondering if it was a bad idea, but by the end of the first period, you’ve all but forgotten that it took place.  Mark scores his third goal and secures a hat trick, bringing the crowd to its feet.  He sits out for second period and plays for most of third, getting two more assists and leading your school to a 5-1 victory.

He’s breathing hard when he gets off the ice and he heads straight for you while the rest of his teammates make their way to the locker room.  When he pulls off his helmet, his hair sticks up in different directions and he looks dazed.

“That was your highest scoring game ever!” you squeal at him.  You clamber down a step to pull him into a hug.

When you pull away he asks you, “Can you do that before every game?”

You look at him, brows furrowed in confusion.  “Y’know, kiss me,” he says a little softer, head down and a shy smile playing on his lips.  To which you place your hands on either side of his face and plant your lips squarely on his.