DOMINIC & IAN
Everyone left the rink as thick silence fell upon the Blizzard Hounds team, nobody saying a thing not even making funny remarks just pure silence. The couch didn't say a thing either and one by one got their stuff and walked away. On the bus back to school it was again silent, the hype no longer visible, everyone nervous about something maybe for Dominic to snap or just anything. But it never came. They all had their heads down looking defeated, hopeless and Ian was just confused, wondering what the hell they did back in there, that was so un-hockey like.
The first thing Dominic and Ian did was go to Mr. Stryker's office as called in immediately. In the office Mr. Stryker's face was unreadable but his jaw is tight. His eyes sweep over the room landing on Ian and Dominic while the coach stands on the other side looking equally disappointed.
"you two want to win so bad, you forgot the basic rule, hockey is a team sport" Coach almost barks, he's been saying this for the nth time now. Ian keeps his head low "am sorry coach" his voice is low as he apologizes.
Dominic though on the other hand looked unapologetic as he scoffs "well it wasn't my fault entirely-" Mr. Stryker raises a hand "enough!". The room stills again.
"Dominic you think playing solo is how you'll get scouted? You'll be benched so fast you won't know what hit you" Dominic stiffens but of course it's Dominic he never backs down "but he didn't play right" Ian only shakes his head, he's surprisingly calm in this situation and Stryker is actually trying to read his mind.
"he's right" all eyes turn on Ian "I got cocky I thought I could do it myself" Dominic is so quick to agree and earns a disapproving growl from the coach that he has to intervene now "Listen Dominic no matter how anyone plays remember your the captain, anything befalls on your shoulders, doesn't matter who played right, your the captain for a reason to keep your team in check". Dominic agrees to all that but he still doesn't want to let go of the fact of blaming Ian and at this point Stryker and Coach are done with him.
"Dominic, crying over spilt milk won't bring back the win, learn how to accept defeat maybe you'll feel better" Ian deadpans with a roll of his eyes. Dominic opens his mouth, then closes it. No sarcastic retort, Ian had just shut him up he can't believe it. He just clenched his jaw and furious silence. Mr. Stryker and Coach glance at each other with a knowing look before coming to a conclusion.
"luckily it wasn't the finals or else you would have embarrassed us, since you two think you can survive on your own you'll be working together until you learn how to actually function as a team. Together. Rink clean up duty, every morning this week. No exceptions" Dominic spins towards his father, "what-" his father simply crosses his arms "handled you quite perfectly, didn't I?" Ian doesn't react. He's too caught up in his own thoughts, guilty gnawing at him. Stryker gave him another chance he can't dispose of it just like that. Him and Dominic in the same room is a disaster but if it fixes everything he's willing to do about anything.
Dominic and his anger is expected of his reaction "I'm not working with a cheater" "he means he'll try, we will work together, we promise" Ian interrupts Dominic who's fuming behind him. The two adults feel assured by that and are convinced this would be a great idea.
As they walked out, the two adults looked at each other before busting into a laughter "oh he shut him up real good" Coach pointed out as Stryker chuckled "oh am sure he'll handle him just fine, now a toast" he took out a bottle of wine "a toast for sure"
Dominic grumbled as they stood outside the office "this is pointless" Ian unfazed only looked at him "maybe if you stopped fighting everything that doesn't go your way, you'd frown less" Dominic glared "I'm not frowning" he defended. "you're always frowning looking like an angry bird, you will less likely to end up ugly by thirty" Dominic blinked "did you just call me-?" "I said ugly at an early age, big difference" Ian chirped passing by him with an obnoxious calm smile, for a second Dominic stood there speechless for the second time.
.
.
For the rest of the weekend Dominic made sure to avoid Ian for as long as possible. Ian could allocate him from 2 miles away and the next thing he knew Dominic disappeared. To Ian this was the perfect moment, no annoying voices calling him out as a cheater, no intercepting him in anyway on and off rink and he didn't see him in their shared class, exactly what Ian craved, Dominic free fresh air.
Ian went on with his daily schedule, he went to the café and worked as usual, but the evening he was dead tired and decided to relax by the seat on the window in the café taking a break and deciding to finally open his Instagram, he had a cute picture he took of an americano he has made for himself and posted it with a cute caption. Though in his dms he noticed the person he was chatting with days ago, was actually ghosting him, but that's the least of his concerns he doesn't mind about the stranger but why did he ghost him? "well two can play the game" Ian decided to ghost him too promising to never reply any of his messages. And in the mean time he was wondering how the hell will he deal with Dominic to work together he just hopes h doesn't blow this one.