Hockey Imagines

46. Markus Nutivaara (Columbus Blue Jackets #65)

Markus Nutivaara

Whoa?? I'm posting a ton?! Who would've ever thought that?

Anyways, this prompt was something that I could relate to so it was pretty easy to write about!

The prompt was: Panic Attack at Team Dinner

I hope you enjoy it! Thanks :)

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The team was going out for dinner and Bri was feeling really good. Great new dress, hair, makeup looking fantastic. Markus evens complements her time and time again.

"I get it honey, you think I look hot." She winks as he pulls her into a kiss.

"Bri, you could wear a paper bag and I would still think you were hot." He comments.

"Good to know, good to know." She takes his hand and the two of them enter the restaurant.

"Look who finally showed up!!" Yells one of Markus' teammates from their spot at the table. Markus laughs giving them a wave and Bri clings onto his arm.

"Are you alright babe?" He asks quietly pressing a kiss to her temple. She nods.

"Yeah, I'm good." The truth was this room was much too warm and much too small for her. She couldn't tell him that, this was a team dinner and she didn't want to be the one to ruin it for him.

The two of them get separated, Bri going off with the WAGS and Markus going with his team.

"So," presses Alex Wennberg's girlfriend. "How are you two doing?"

"Fantastic actually. He seems to be adjusting to living together very well, I'm surprised." She comments causing the others to laugh.

"That's good to hear, very good to hear. Boys can be difficult sometimes, you just need to learn how to handle them." She takes a sip of her drink and lets the other girls give her advice. The anxiety slowly creeps into her mind throughout the dinner and she has to excuse herself when it gets too much for her. She brushes her fingers across Markus' shoulders as she passes and that causes the boys to cat call. She wets her hands under the cold water in the sink before pressing them against her cheeks in order to calm herself down. 'Get it together Bri,' she orders. 'You're better than this!' She continues to chant her mantra over and over again but she begins to cry somewhere in the middle of it. The door to the bathroom opens and she hides in a stall in fear of someone seeing her.

"Rakas." Markus says silently walking into the woman's washroom at the restaurant. He peers wearily around in hopes of the two being alone. "My darling, please come out so I can help you."

"I'm okay, go away." She sniffles dabbing at her eyes.

"No I refuse too. I need to help you in some help."

"Go away, that'll help." She hiccups. Markus finds the stall and pushes it open to reveal Bri.

"Rakas, Come here." He opens his arms and she walks into them resting her head against his chest. "What happened?" He asks kissing the top of her head.

"It was too small, I felt trapped in there and then as the dinner progressed it got worse and worse to the point where I had to come in here." She closes her eyes focusing on his heartbeat and the rise and fall of his chest so she could match with it.

"I'm sorry baby, I should've known that it would make you uncomfortable and cause you to have a panic attack. I would've helped you in any way."
"You're helping me right now Markus." She whispers holding him closer to her gripping his shirt tightly.

"It's alright, you're okay baby. I'm here and I'm going to help you." He whispers rocking the two back and forth as she fights to get her breathing under control. "I love you baby. I love you so much, you're okay." He continues to whisper softly in her ear occasionally kissing the top of her head. Once she has calmed down enough she pulls away from Markus and smiles. He wipes stray tears from her cheeks and gives her a soft kiss on her lips. "How about we go home with what's left on our plates, have a nice bath and cuddle?"

"I can't make you do that. It's your team dinner, you want to be here."
"Yes but if you're not okay then I don't want to be here." He says seriously. "Come on, let's go home." The pair walk out, explain that they were going home, pay and get to go boxes before actually heading home.

"Go pick out a bath bomb, I'll start running the bath." He kisses the top of her head before heading into the bathroom. She smiles and grabs one of the first bombs she finds. When she turns around Markus is standing there shirtless, a comforting smile gracing his face. "It's almost ready, come on." He extends his hand and she walks over to take it.

In the bath she leans back against his chest relaxing in the hot, dark blue water.

"Minä rakastan sinua." He whispers.

"I love you too... thank you for everything." Markus smiles down at her giving her a soft kiss. She hums and leans up to kiss him softly on the lips. 

"Anything for my girl."