NHL Imagines

#89. Michael Latta: Rockford IceHogs (Chicago Blackhawks)

Trades have the ability to rip relationships apart. They can bring one person across the country from another, or even across the world. It has families in different hemispheres.

It's not only the trades that have taken people away from you. Your brother, Tom, plays hockey in Washington, while your secret boyfriend Michael played hockey in Washington, before signing in LA and then traded to the Chicago area.

Finally, 10 months of phone calls, text messages and countless amounts of FaceTime calls, Michael was finally coming back to Washington for a guys weekend. Since the IceHogs season was over, he was able to come back to D.C to watch one of the playoff games and to hang out with all of his old friends, and you. 

The airport is filled with people, making trying to find him just a little more difficult. But finally, his familiar face is coming toward the three of you. (You, your brother and Burky) The two of you had planned out the meeting in advance to make sure you weren't caught by your brother. 

He goes down the line, hugging Tom first, then Andre before turning to you. He opens his arms and you practically jump into them. He holds you close and you smile before whispering in his ear. 

"Welcome home Mikey." You both pull away before smiling at each other. 

"Shall we go?" Tom asks coming in between the two of you slinging an arm around Michael's shoulders. The ride home is interesting, Andre and Tom sitting in the front while you and Michael sit in the back, hands touching as they lay on the middle seat. 

The skyline of Washington flies by, every so often Tom or Andre would point out a new building to Michael, but the majority of the time you tune them out and are focused on just holding his hand. 

Finally you make it back to the Apartment, and the four of you troop up the stairs. The boys all flop on the couch and immediately begin discussing the chances in the playoffs this year. You retreat to your room, grabbing your work and flopping back on the bed. 

An hour later and you hear the door close with shouts of farewell coming from them. Your door squeaks open and a familiar face pops in the door. 

"Am I allowed to enter the sacred room?" Michael asks lips quirking up into a smile. You grin up at him and shake your head. 

"It was your room first, so really it should be sacred to me. Why didn't you go with Burky and my brother?" 

"I'm now an enemy, I am not allowed to view practices. And I'd much rather spend times with you then with some sweaty guys I used to play hockey with." He comes into the room and shuts the door behind him. "Do you mind that I want to hang out with you?" 

"You know I'd never mind it." You put the work away smiling at him. He flops onto the bed and crawls up to get a better angle. He leans down and your lips connect. You smile against him before cupping his face with your hands and drawing him closer. He eagerly presses closer, a hand drawing up your leg. The two of you are so caught up in each other that you don't hear your brother come back, or the door opening until it is too late. 

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Tom's shocked voice floods the room causing the two of you to abruptly pull away and for Michael to end up on the floor after falling off the bed. "I LEAVE THE HOUSE FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF TO GO TO PRACTICE AND WHEN I GET BACK IT'S AS IF MY BEST FRIEND AND LITTLE SISTER ARE HAVING A SECRET AFFAIR!" 

"Wait it's been an hour and a half?" You ask looking over at the clock and with a shock that he is in fact right, then you realize that your shirt is gone as well as Michaels. "Oh god" You whisper to yourself yet both of the other people in the room turn to look at you. 

"What?" Michael asks concerned. "Are you ok?" 

"Yeah, I'm great actually." You smile at him before gulping. "Except for the fact that we lost our shirts and Tom has every right to be mad." You turn to your brother. "Can we explain?" 

"Please, but put some shirts on before you do." He says exhausted before turning and leaving the room. Immediately Michael is getting up off the floor and grabbing both of our shirts. 

"Well, it could have been worse." He says and you laugh swinging off the bed and bounding to stand before him. 

"At least we weren't naked." You murmur huskily and his eyes go a shade darker. 

"The day is still young love." He says back and you laugh before grabbing your shirt and sliding it over your head. 

"Let's go before my brother has a heart attack." The two of you exit the room hands brushing but nothing more. Tom is sitting in a chair across from the couch and just motions with his hands for the two of you to sit. 

"So, start at the beginning. Is this just a hookup because you two were bored or is this a real thing?" 

"It's a real thing" Michael starts. "It first started before I left. The night we were kicked out of the playoffs. You were somewhere with god knows who and it was just me and (Y/N) in the apartment and she was comforting me about the loss and things just went from there." 

"Did you do it." 

"Yes" You pipe up and Tom falls back in the chair a hand going over his face. "It happened multiple times until Michael had to leave for LA." 

"But that was almost a year ago." 

"A year ago in 28 days." Michaels little factoid catches you by surprise and you turn to look at him. 

"You remember to the day?" You ask quietly and he nods. 

"Of course I do, that's the day my life changed." You grin and lean over to kiss him. 

"Me too" You murmur before your brother clearing his throat brings you both crashing back to reality. 

"All right lovebirds thats enough. Any last words before I give my verdict?" 

"Yes." 

"Alright Latta, you have one minute starting now." 

"I love you." He says it quickly and with a bit of fear hidden in his eyes. You don't move for a moment before having a smile cover your face from ear to ear. 

"I love you too you moron." You lean over and kiss him yet again. His hand goes behind your head and gets tangled in your hair. 

"ALRIGHT I'M COOL WITH THIS RELATIONSHIP IF YOU WILL STOP KISSING IN FRONT OF ME" Tom bellows and the two of you break apart again. "Do not make me regret allowing you two to date." 

"Don't worry Tommy, you won't" 

AUTHORS NOTE

Hey everyone! I managed to update again! Yay! Thank you so much for 157k! Ahh that's so crazy!! 

This one is for thom_wilsooo Sorry that it's taken so long!

As usual unedited!!

Until next time, hope you're all well! 

~Emma