Chapter 1
Grant, Reid, Parker and Vince : better than a Champion's Cup<!
It was the Ramparts' first match against the Corsairs since Finn joined the team, and he and Roman had gone to the Halcyon with Grant and Reid after the game.
Tonight they'd been joined by Vince and Parker too, riding the high of a hard-fought win.
Finn was buzzed enough to be leaning into Roman, though he'd never admit it.
Two beers weren't much, but it was enough to loosen him up and from the way Roman kept throwing him those sly looks, Finn knew damn well he'd been caught out.
He buried his face briefly against Roman's neck, grounding himself in the familiar scent.
Roman, without missing a beat, pressed a kiss to the top of his head.
"This is still so weird," Grant muttered, eyeing the quiet affection between the newlyweds.
The table laughed, and Finn flushed under the sudden attention.
"You get used to it," Vince said.
"Mostly we're just grateful to Finn.
Koslov's chirping's gone down, like, fifty percent now that he's busy following Finny around like a duckling."
That set everyone laughing again, except Roman, who mock-gasped, hand over his chest.
"Excuse me?
I am captain.
I do not follow.
I lead."
"Right into Finn's lap," Parker shot back.
"Still the weirdest love story I've ever heard," Grant added.
That wasn't something they hadn't heard before.
People never quite knew what to do with them as a couple.
Finn understood why.
He'd always been a private person, used from a young age to keep his life locked down, like showing too much of himself might cost him everything.
And despite appearances, Roman wasn't much different.
Sure, he loved to post pictures of them online, never missed a chance to kiss or tease Finn in public.
But the soft, vulnerable side of him, the one Finn loved most, was shown to only a lucky few.
"We are not weird, Morrison.
We are best couple.
Number one," Roman said with a mock pout.
But Finn felt Roman's hold tighten around his waist, saw the shadow flicker in his husband's eyes.
He knew it stung Roman, people not understanding.
It stung him too.
Because to Finn, loving Roman was like breathing and also like standing on solid ground after years of drifting.
It flooded him and steadied him at the same time.
It hurt, knowing the world reduced them to a rivalry, a strange story, a piece of scandalous gossip when what they had was so much more.
He wanted to be by Roman's side for everything, the mundane, the bright and the hard.
And maybe not everyone who was in love felt like this, so overwhelmed and so steadied all at once.
But Finn did.
And if love was a contest, well... he is the winner.
Best couple.
Number one.
Most epic love story ever.
The thought came in Roman's smug, childish voice, and Finn almost laughed out loud.
Then he frowned.
Where was all this sappy shit coming from?
Maybe he had drunk more than he realized.
"Finn?" Parker's voice broke through his thoughts.
He blinked.
"We're talking about what we'd say to our younger selves, if we could," Parker explained.
How the conversation got there, Finn had no idea.
Probably Grant being nostalgic because of his looming retirement, the Roman voice in his head helpfully provided.
"Man, imagine someone telling you you're going to be a three-time Champion's Cup champion when you grow up!" Vince teased.
"And that you are going to marry a hot Novorovian who is even better than you at hockey," Roman quipped instantly, grinning around the rim of his glass.
"Little Barrett would be so confused," Reid laughed.
Finn thought about it, again strangely emotional.
What would he say to his younger self if he could?
First thing, he'd hug that kid.
Because if adult him had enough anxiety to fill a stadium, little him had been worse.
Shy, wound tight, always feeling a little different and on the outside.
Hockey had been everything since he was four, his excuse for why he didn't need friends, why it didn't matter that other kids laughed or played without him.
He'd told himself he could make friends later, when he made it to the PHL.
But the truth was, he'd never expected to make real connections, platonic or romantic.
He'd been too controlled, protecting himself with discipline and routine, too afraid of emotions that might get messy.
And then he'd found Roman.
"I think," Finn started, his voice quieter now, "I would tell him how brave he is to go after what he wants.
And that I know he's working so hard to be the best at hockey, and that I know he loves the game so much."
Finn thought back to the shadow in Roman's eyes when Grant had made his comment, and shifted, looping his arms around Roman's neck, tilting his head until their eyes met.
Roman was already watching him fondly but his grin faltered under the intensity of Finn's gaze, his expression flickering into surprise, then something more uncertain and softer.
"I would tell him all the sacrifices he made will pay off.
Because one day, hockey will give him the love of his life.
And the feeling of loving him and being loved by him will trump winning the Champion's Cup any time."
Finn barely managed to finish before Roman kissed him.
The kiss was fierce and embarrassingly emotional.
Finn kissed back without hesitation, a quiet sound escaping him as he encouraged Roman closer.
See?
We ARE the cutest couple.
Best love story, Finn thought.
When they finally pulled apart, the rest of the table was staring at them like, in various shades of disgust.
"Unbelievable," Grant groaned."Did he just say love beats the Cup?" Vince demanded."Fuck you, Finn," Reid said, shaking his head.Parker stood, already heading toward the pool tables.
"Okay, soulmate hour is officially starting.
I'm out."The others muttered their agreement as they got up too, leaving Finn and Roman behind.
Roman smirked after them, then turned back to Finn, eyes still bright and a little wet.
"See?
Even they know.
We are number one couple."Finn rolled his eyes, but couldn't stop grinning as he leaned in to kiss his husband once more.