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Dylan (December 2023)

You get to the hotel yet?

Hen

My flight just landed

Sweet :)

I got in a few hours ago

I’m in room 819

We’ve got three whole hours before practice

If you want some company

I would love some company

Though I should warn you

We can’t do what we discussed the other day yet

Since we have practice right after

Henri. I literally just want to hang out with you

You could just nap next to me and I’d be satisfied

Or grab lunch if you’re hungry

And if you want to decompress alone I get that too

Whatever you want/need

I need you

You can have me :)

Henri was mercifully on the same floor as Dylan. A lot of their teammates had been hanging out in the lobby, and Henri had been obligated to make small talk before heading to his own room and hanging up his suit. Obligated was perhaps a strong word. The Turkeys were no burden to talk to, unlike some teams had been, and he was pleased that they actually seemed happy to see him.

But there was one teammate in particular he longed to see.

He knocked on door 819 and waited patiently. His hands were buried in his pockets not only because of anticipation but also to hide what he’d brought with him.

“Hey, handsome,” Dylan said, blocking the doorway so he could stare at Henri with open affection. “How was your flight?”

Henri shrugged. He’s been on so many planes, they all blurred together. If there wasn’t turbulence, it barely registered. “Fine. Mind if I…?”

Dylan looked like he wanted to draw this out, tease him a little longer and deprive them both of all the things they actually wanted. But like Henri, he must’ve known that they had a very limited amount of time before they had to be downstairs to meet with the rest of the team. Or perhaps he was thinking of the near-week apart that made him cave early.

He grabbed a fistful of Henri’s sweatshirt and pulled him in. The door slammed shut behind them, and he found himself in Dylan’s arms.

“Did you spend the whole break on the beach?” Henri said. He had definitely gotten some sun, the slight tan brightening his eyes and making his hair glisten. It was unfair how good he looked.

“My parents’ place is on the shore, so yeah. It was cold, though. Not Canada cold, but cold.” He hugged Henri tighter. “Hey. Missed you.”

Henri’s hands found their way to Dylan’s face. His thumbs rubbed along his cheeks as he soaked in the sight of him. “I missed you too. I’m not used to wanting to get back to work after the break.”